FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Sacred Heart University men's volleyball closed its debut weekend of Northeast Conference play with a five-set setback against Daemen University (N.Y.) on Saturday at the Pitt Center. The Pios won both the second and third sets in thrilling fashion, but were caught by the Wildcats in the fourth and fifth.
Records:
Sacred Heart 3-6 (1-1 NEC)
Daemen 8-1 (3-0 NEC)
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino: 18 kills
Tyler Kwinta: 37 assists, 12 digs, 2 aces, .333 hitting%
Cole Younger: 12 kills
Ryan Benscoter: .400 hitting%
Up Next:
The Pioneers continue NEC play on Friday, Feb. 24, with a road showdown against Saint Francis University at 6 p.m. in Loretto, Pa.
Of Note:
Daemen and SHU traded points for most of the first frame before the Wildcats a 16-6 run to pull away and secure a 25-13 victory.
The Pioneers would start the second set strong getting ahead 3-0 before the Wildcats answered with three straight points of their own. The red and white went on another 3-0 surge to add to its advantage, holding the lead until Daemen evened the set at 12-12 by the midway point. The two teams remained close until a Wildcats' 3-0 run gave put them ahead 23-21. The Pioneers did not quit trailing in the set, putting together a 4-0 surge to end the frame. Patrick Mucherino served on three of the four points, sealing a 26-24 win with back-to-back aces.
Just like the second set, the third was tightly contested. Just like the previous frame, the Wildcats led late, owning a 21-19 lead over SHU. The Pioneers again answered, winning four out of the next five points to go ahead 23-22. Both teams continued to fight for the frame, until the Pios wrestled away a 30-28 win by taking the last two points.
Daemen kept SHU at bay during the fourth set, never allowing the Pioneers within two points after taking a 13-11 lead and finishing the set with a 25-21 victory.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Wildcats broke through in a tightly-contested fifth set, going up 10-6 after a back-and-forth start. This lead proved to be too much for the Pios as Daemen held on for a15-11 win in the set to take the match.
While the two teams were even at five services aces a piece, the Pioneers fell to the Wildcats in overall points (117-101), kills (69-50) and assists (64-43). Mucherino led the way with 18 kills while Tyler Kwinta filled up the stat sheet with 37 assists, 12 digs, 2 aces and .333 hitting percentage.
