FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A victory in the EIVA opener wasn't in the cards for the Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team. The Pioneers lost a 3-2 (16-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-22, 15-9) to Saint Francis on Friday at the Pitt Center. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 3-2, 0-1 EIVA
Saint Francis: 4-4, 3-0 EIVA
 
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino (SHU): 17 kills, 5 blocks, 4 digs
Ife Loverton (SHU): 8 kills, 5 blocks
Teddy Payne (SHU): 40 assists, 6 digs
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart continues conference play Saturday at 4 p.m. versus fourth-ranked Penn State.
 
Of Note:
Sacred Heart came out of the gate hot. After an Ife Loverton kill, Mark Berry rattled off six-straight points with his serve to give SHU an 8-3 advantage. Loverton produced another kill then teamed up with Patrick Mucherino on a pair of blocks to extend SHU's lead to 20-10.
 
The Red Flash pulled within 20-19 in the third set, but the Pioneers finished on a 5-1 run that included a pair of Berry kills.
 
SFU used a 5-0 run midway through the fourth set to force a deciding fifth set. The Pioneers couldn't find their offensive rhythm in the fifth as Thomas Leahey served five-straight points to give the Red Flash a lead they wouldn't relinquish. 
 
SHU hit .238 through the first three sets but .127 in the final two frames. Saint Francis hit .571 in the final set.
 
Topping all players was Mucherino with 17 kills to go along with five blocks, tying him with Loverton for the team-lead. Berry and Loverton had eight kills each while setter Teddy Payne handed out 40 assists, the second highest total of his career.