STEUBENVILLE – The Franciscan volleyball team powered its way to a three-set sweep of visiting La Roche on Saturday during the Lady Barons' annual Dig Pink Rally.
 
The Basics
• Score: Franciscan 3 – La Roche 0
• Records: FUS (7-3) • LAR (4-6)
• Location: Steubenville, OH • Kuzma Court
• The Short Story: Franciscan held off a late first set surge from the Redhawks to take the first set 26-24 and then cruised to a 25-21 second set win and 25-16 third set win.
 
How it Happened
• The Lady Barons held a 23-17 lead in the first set before La Roche rallied for a 24-23 lead but two unforced La Roche errors and a MaryKate Taylor service aced handed Franciscan the 26-24 win.
• Franciscan built a 16-9 lead in the second set before La Roche scored six-straight points to get within one, 16-15. The Redhawks used four-straight services aces in their comeback run. Franciscan got a side out and used a 6-2 run to push its lead to 22-17. Junior Meghan Bayer ended the set with a kill to win 25-21.
• After La Roche took a 7-6 lead in the third set, Franciscan took control of the pace of play and worked an 18-12 lead. A kill from Emily Nutter gave Franciscan it's first match point of the day before a service error from La Roche ended the game, 25-16.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Meghan Bayer led the Lady Barons with 16 kills while sophomore Renee Antonelli posted 15.
• Sophomore Caite O'Malley posted four blocks while Nutter chipped in two and Bayer one.
• Nutter handed out a season-best 20 assists while junior Sydney Riley posted 12.
• MaryKate Taylor led the Lady Barons with 12 digs.
 
Up Next
• Franciscan hits the road as the Lady Barons travels to nearby Chatham for a 7pm match against the Cougars in Pittsburgh, Pa.