FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After jumping out to an early lead on Friday against George Mason University, the Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team could not hold on against the Patriots. GMU prevailed 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23).

Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-7, 1-6 EIVA
George Mason: 6-7, 1-5 EIVA
 
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino (SHU): 16 kills
Mark Berry (SHU): 9 kills, 7 digs
Aaron Peterson (SHU): 9 kills, 3 blocks
 
Up Next:
The two teams meet again at 5 p.m. on Saturday 
 
Of Note:
The Pioneers found themselves down 20-17 in the first set, but thanks to a pair of blocks and two kills, SHU evened the set at 21-21. GMU staved off set point, but an Ife Loverton kill and stuff by Loverton and Dylan McClung won the set.
 
Runs midway through the second and third sets allowed the Patriots to establish a 2-1 lead.
 
The fourth set went back and forth with George Mason taking a 14-12 lead before the Pioneers regained the advantage, 16-14. A service error allowed SHU to cut the margin to 23-22, but Jason Ashenfelter came through with two kills to finish the match. 
 
Sacred Heart couldn't slow down the Patriots' offensive attack as the visitors had a .356-to-.202 hitting advantage. GMU also had 13 blocks to the Pioneers' seven. 
 
Patrick Mucherino topped SHU with 16 kills while Aaron Peterson and Mark Berry posted nine each. Berry and Cole Younger produced seven digs.