FAIRFIELD, Conn - The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball defeated NEC-foe St. Francis U. at home in straight sets (29-27, 25-15, 25-13) Friday evening. With the win, SHU improves to 6-9 on the season and 2-1 in NEC-play, while St. Francis U. falls to 1-13 on the season and 1-1 in the NEC.

Liisel Nelis led SHU with 12 kills and 10 digs for the double-double, while Sarah Ciszek added 32 assists, eight kills, four digs and two block in the win. The Pioneers return to action Saturday, Oct. 5, when SHU plays host to NEC-foe Robert Morris at 7 p.m.

By The Numbers

• SHU hit .330 for the match

• St. Francis hit .158 for the match

• SHU tallied 45 kills and 34 digs in the match

• Liisel Nelis led SHU with 12 kills and 10 digs for the double-double

• Sarah Ciszek tallied 32 assists, eight kills, four digs and two blocks

Set 1 - SHU 29, SFU 27

• SHU jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, powered by two kills apiece from Liisel Nelis and Jillian Kim and a kill from Makayla Dole

• After St. Francis tied the set at 9-9, SHU went on a 3-0 run to take a 12-9 lead, capped by a kill from Sarah Ciszek

• With the set tied at 22-22, the two sides traded points to a 26-26 tie

• Trailing 27-26, Nelis scored three consecutive kills to secure the set win

SET 2 - SHU 25, SFU 15

• SHU jumped out to an 8-3 lead to force a timeout from the Red Flash

• The Pioneers had five different players record a kill during the run

• St. Francis cut the SHU lead to 14-10 before the Pioneers pushed the lead to 21-12

• Leading 24-15, SHU took the set after a service error from the Red Flash

SET 3 - SHU 25, SFU 13

• SHU jumped out to a 9-2 lead to force a Red Flash timeout

• Out of the timeout, SHU extended the lead to 21-9

• The Red Flash battled but the Pioneers held on to take the set 25-13

• Kim and Dole led the way for SHU with four kills apiece in the set

• Ciszek tallied 11 assists in the set

• Nelis recorded two kills and two service aces in the set