Sports
Saint Francis Women’s Volleyball Falls in Three
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Paloma Gonzalez Jaramillo had 11 kills.
>> Kori McClure acquired five service aces.
>> Saint Francis split the weekend with FDU.
>> The Red Flash fell to the Knights in a 3-0 loss (25-20, 25-22, 29-27).
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
During the first set, FDU took the first point, but Saint Francis did not let that change its mindset. The Red Flash continued to go on a 3-0 run with a Korrin Burns kill, Alexa Chapla service ace, and a huge duo block by McClure and Burns. FDU regained control with an 8-2 run. Just when FDU thought it had a large enough lead (17-11), Saint Francis went on a six-point run to tie 17 all. This run was powered by several different players including middle block McClure with two kills and another huge block. Alexandra Sappia gained herself an ace and four assists. Gwen Atkins registered a kill and so did Burns, who aided on the block with McClure. The Knights regained control 21-18, but the Red Flash did not give up bringing the score back within one point. McClure threw in a service ace and stuffed a FDU kill at the net. Sappia collected another assist on her toss up to Paloma Gonzalez Jaramillo for a kill. FDU had the next four points straight to claim set one and did not hold back winning the match 3-0.
FLASH MOMENTS
With the second set tied at three, Saint Francis found a flame to go on a 5-1 run. Alyssa Irwin powered the surge with two kills; one set up by Sappia and the other by Burns. Irwin also assisted in a duo block with Gwen Atkins, who had a kill of her own early in the run.
In the third set, down 12-9, Irwin once again fueled the fire striking hard to earn a kill and send the Red Flash on a 9-4 run. Chandler Alter, the defensive specialist, switched to offense to collect a service ace for herself. After an attacking error and bad set for FDU, Sappia and Hailey Atkins both set up Burns for a kill a piece. Gonzalez Jaramillo found her swing, slamming down two kills of her own. McClure once again found herself defending the net to shut down a Knight kill. With the set tied 17 all, Saint Francis went on a 5-2 run from another Gonzalez Jaramillo kill followed by an Aaliyah Toppin kill. Irwin and Sappia switched roles for a point, Irwin decided to set up Sappia so she could get a kill in the stat line. Then, to force FDU to take a timeout, Sappia set up both Irwin and McClure for a kill each.
FLASH NUGGETS
Burns, the five-time NEC Player of the Week and NEC Prime Performer, registered 17 kills, five digs, and two blocks.
McClure, a NEC Player of the Week and NEC Prime Performer, finished with eight kills, five service aces, four blocks, and five digs.
Alter had a team high of nine digs.
Sappia finished the match with 36 assists, five digs, and two aces. Sappia has earned NEC Prime Performer distinction each week of the 2025 season.
Gonzalez Jaramillo collected 11 kills. This is her third time in the Red Flash uniform with 10+ kills.
Irwin recorded seven kills and two assists on the afternoon, with a hitting percentage of .429.
NEXT ON TAP
The Red Flash stay in the state but this time it is against Mercyhurst for their second conference match up. Then, Saint Francis is back in DeGol Arena for another two-game series for Halloween weekend against LIU. This will also be its dig pink game, as the Red Flash celebrates breast cancer awareness month during its final October game on Friday.