FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After a fast start, the Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team couldn't hold on against Harvard. The Pioneers fell 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-20) to the Crimson on Friday.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 6-10, 1-8 EIVA
Harvard: 7-8, 5-2 EIVA
 
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino (SHU) 11 kills, 10 digs
Mark Berry (SHU): 8 kills
Ife Loverton (SHU): 6 kills, 4 blocks
 
Up Next:
The two teams are set for a 5 p.m. rematch Saturday at Harvard.
 
Of Note:
Sacred Heart got out to a 7-2 lead in the first set thanks to a Carlos Santa Cruz ace. The Crimson worked their way back into the set and pulled even at 22-22. A service error and two Ife Loverton kills gave the hosts the first set.
 
Harvard turned the tables in set two, going on a late 5-1 run to knot the match at a set apiece. The Crimson took the third set thanks to an 8-1 start.
 
SHU was down early in set four, but fought back to 16-14 on a block from Patrick Mucherino and Aaron Peterson. Unfortunately, that's as close as the Pioneers would get the rest of the night.
 
After hitting .313 in the first set, the Pioneers had a -.011 rate the remainder of the match. Conversely, the Crimson hit .333 for the match, including .583 in set three. Harvard also had a 44-34 advantage in digs.
 
Mucherino produced the first double-double of his career with 11 kills and a career-high 10 digs. Cole Younger followed with eight digs. Loverton notched a team-best four blocks.