ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The University of St. Francis volleyball team concluded Day Two of the Eutectics Classic on Saturday afternoon with a split of their two matches, falling to Bresica University 3-1 in match one and winning their second match against hosts University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy 3-0. With the split, the Fighting Saints currently hold a record of 10-9 on the year.

St. Francis vs. Brescia
The first match ended in a four-set contest against the Bearcats with scores of 27-25, 25-21, 25-14, and 25-19. After trailing from behind the majority of the first set, the Saints were able to even the score at 20-20 before a Riley Hungate kill gave USF their first lead of the night.  Desiree Anderson connected for a kill to spoil Brescia's first match point, but BU collected the remaining two points to capture the 27-25 win.

BU continued to pressure the Saints in Set 2 as USF trailed by as many as seven points in the stanza.  Two three-point swings would bring USF to within two points at 22-20, but the late surge would not be enough as a late Bearcat kill sealed the set two loss.

St. Francis found their groove in the third frame, cruising to a 25-14 win, aided by a 13-2 scoring flash to close out the game.  The Saints connected for five kills and collected two service aces during the run.  A shared block from Olivia Cosgrove and Taylor Connolly on the final point would solidify the USF win.

The final set looked to remain a close affair with the score locked at 9-9 after the first 18 rallies.  But a Brescia surge was too much for the Saints to handle, as the Bearcats authored an 11-1 scoring run over the next 12 plays to widen the gap 20-10.  The difference proved to be too great for USF, as the Saints would have to settle for the 25-19 final score.

St. Francis recorded 29 kills in the loss, led by Anderson's 13.  Anderson (13 kills, 13 digs) and Alyssa Teske (19 assists, 11 digs) both authored double-doubles in the contest, while Cosgrove and Cadence Wodrich each led the team in blocks with five apiece.


St. Francis vs. Health Sciences and Pharmacy
The Saints cruised their way to a decisive win in match number two, breezing their way to a 3-0 sweep with scores of 25-7, 25-17, 25-15.  Never trailing at any point throughout the match, the Saints dominated the Eutectics offensively, collecting 35 kills and posting an attack percentage of .277 to UHSP's -.204. 

Teske and Hungate posted the most kills with nine apiece, while Teske authored a team-high 17  assists and four service aces.  Sophie Knazur led the way defensively in blocks, registering nine to her credit.

Up Next
USF will take the court again on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00pm in a home match against St. Ambrose University as part of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action.

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