Strong Offensive Performance Helps Men's Volleyball Complete Sweep
 
Flash Points:

• SFU pulls out two thrillers over No. 8 Stanford and UC Santa Barbara to improve to 2-1 on the season.
• Cole Thompson (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos) recorded 26 kills over two matches.
• Ryan Alu (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West HS) had a game-high 12 digs in the second match
• Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) and Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) both recorded 17.5 points in the second match.

 
Riverside, Calif.- The Saint Francis Men's Volleyball team notches two wins on the day as they take down No. 8 Stanford in a 3-1 thriller while battling out a close one against UC Santa Barbara, 3-1.
 
"Today we played very well," said head coach Mike Rumbaugh. "I think we looked a lot more relaxed and comfortable compared to the day before. We made sure we kept our composure and trusted each other when things didn't go our way.  I am very proud of the guys and the energy they brought to both games."
 
"The biggest adjustment today was getting used to the speed," said senior Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern). "Practicing four days in a row then jumping right into games can be challenging but I think we are handling it very well.  As the season goes on and the more we adjust to each other, the better we will play together."
 
SFU vs. No. 8 Stanford (3-1-: 25-15, 20-25, 26-24, and 29-27)
 
Cole Thompson (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos) and Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) combined with 18.5 points to pace the Red Flash offense, while Joseph Koszelak (North Tonawanda, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) dished out a team-high 16 assists and 6 digs on the defensive side. Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) helped make a contribution with 4 kills and 4 digs.
 
After losing a tough one the day before, the Red Flash opened the first set on fire, to take an 11-5 lead before Stanford calls its first timeout of the set. After the timeout, Stanford went on a 2-0 run to cut the lead to four before SFU jumped out to a 8 point lead and sustained that the rest of the way to take the set, 25-15. The Red Flash hit .444% while holding the Cardinals to a -.034% hitting percentage in the set.
 
Both teams battled back and forth to open the second set, until Stanford took a 15-12 lead before SFU called a timeout. The Cardinals would eventually hold that lead and take the second set, 25-20.
 
In another back and forth third set, SFU would put together a 3-0 run to take a 20-16 lead and cause Stanford to call a timeout. Following the timeout, the Cardinals put together a 4-0 run to knot the game at 20. As both teams battled to take the lead, SFU finally pulled away to win the third set, 26-24.
 
Down 2-1 in the match, Stanford wasn't going down without a fight. Holding the lead for the majority of the match, SFU put together a 4-0 run to force the Cardinals to call a timeout. Stanford scratched and clawed to stay alive forcing the set to go into overtime until SFU tugged away the match and notched its first win of the season.
 
SFU vs. UC Santa Barbara (3-1-: 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, and 25-23)
 
After coming off a big win over No. 8 Stanford in Game 1, UCSB jumps out to a 6-1 lead to start the first set. The Gauchos hold their lead for most of the set until the Red Flash tie it up at 16 with a Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) kill. As both teams begin to battle back and forth, SFU eventually goes on a 3-0 run to take the first set, 25-23.
 
After a thrilling first set, the Gauchos continue to battle back and forth with the Red Flash but would eventually pull away and take set two, 25-23.
 
SFU's front row produced six blocks in the third set, as Keith Kegerreis (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) and middle-mate Hayden Herc (Eden, N.Y./Eden) each had three total blocks in the frame. This helped SFU put a haul to the Guacho offense as they seal the deal and take the set, 25-22.
 
The fourth and final set was a slugfest as SFU hit .400% while UCSB followed with a .333% hitting percentage. The Red Flash eventually soared out to a 14-9 lead before the Guachos battled back to cut the lead within 3 at 20-17. SFU would sustain that 3-point lead for the rest of the game to win the set, 25-23 and improve to 2-1 on the season.
 
Saint Francis is back in action today against Long Beach State at 5:30 p.m.