LORETTO, Pa. – Key plays down the stretch propelled the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team to victory on Friday. The Pioneers defeated Saint Francis, 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 27-25).

Records:
Sacred Heart: 14-9, 8-3 NEC 
Saint Francis: 11-12, 7-4 NEC
 
Top Performers:
Sarah Ciszek (SHU): 37 assists, 12 digs
Reghan Palanchi (SHU): 13 kills, 4 blocks
Emma Smallscomb (SHU): 19 digs
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers travel to Fairleigh Dickinson to face the Knights at 4 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
Of Note:
The Red Flash had the advantage in kills (64-52) and digs (61-59), but the hosts committed 21 service errors. 
 
Saint Francis narrowed the lead late in the first and second sets, but the Pioneers took both frames thanks to three-point runs. 
 
Olivia Fairchild had a kill and ace in the first set. Fairchild, Dominique Felix and Jasmine Rogers came through in set three.
 
The Red Flash pulled ahead, 24-23, in the fourth set, but a service error kept SHU in the set. A Kate Anderson kill fended off another set point then a Rogers' kill and SFU hitting error ended the match.
 
Five different Pioneers had seven or more kills, led by Reghan Palanchi with a baker's dozen. Felix and Fairchild notched 11 each. 
 
Libero Emma Smallcomb produced a match-high 19 digs. Sarah Ciszek and Lilian Vargo had 12 each and Ciszek added 37 assists for the double-double.