FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The first match of the season started strong for the Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team but the Pioneers couldn't sustain their momentum Friday against Harvard in the season opener. SHU dropped a 3-1 (15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19) decision to the Crimson.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 0-1
Harvard: 0-0
 
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino (SHU): 11 kills
Mark Berry (SHU): 8 kills
Ife Loverton (SHU): 8 kills, 2 blocks
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart is on the road Saturday to take on NJIT at 1 p.m.
 
Of Note:
The Pioneers played well at the top as they hit .500 in the opening set while limiting the Crimson to a .036 rate. Harvard turned the tables in the final three sets as SHU was held to a .037 percentage. The visitors also had a 44-32 digs advantage.
 
A pair of 5-0 runs, the second aided by four Harvard errors, helped Sacred Heart jump out to an 18-7 lead in set one. 
 
The Crimson won the close points down the stretch in sets two and three to swing the match in their favor. A Patrick Mucherino kill tied the second set 23-23, but a SHU error and Harvard kill knotted the match.
 
Three Pioneers had eight or more kills, led by 11 from Mucherino. Cole Younger was tops with seven digs while Tyler Kwinta handed out 23 assists.