LORETTO, PA  — Sacred Heart University men's volleyball competed in the first round of the NEC Tournament Wednesday night, sweeping Saint Francis Brooklyn 3-0 (29-27, 25-23, 25-21).

Both teams would serve as a tough challenge in the first set, as the largest lead would be three points for the Terriers several times early in the opening set. The teams would remain gridlocked in ties for the majority of the set thereafter before SHU would be able to get a three point lead of their own at 22-19. The Terriers refused to go away, pushing the set to extra points before SHU would close it 29-27. Teddy Payne would assist on 11 of the 14 kills for the Pios.

The Pios and Terriers would each trade nine points to start the second set. The squads would continue to trade points until late in the set when the Pios would get to a late 21-20 lead. The red and white would close on a 4-2 run thanks to three more Payne assists, who would produce another 11 assists in the middle frame. Patrick Mucherino would post eight kills and Carlos Santa Cruz would chip in for three kills as well.

SHU would start the third set with a 3-2 lead before the Terriers would take five of nine points to even it at seven all. After a 6-2 scoring run it to make it 13-9, would be the Pios who would keep the Terriers at bay, maintaining at least a two point lead the rest of the set on their way to sweeping the match with a 25-21 final. Although losing the kill count 52-44, Saint Francis Brooklyn's 28 errors on the match would propel the Pioneers to victory.

Records:
Sacred Heart 12-12 (7-7 NEC)
SF Brooklyn 10-16 (5-9 NEC)

Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino 15 kills, 1 ace, 3 blocks
Carlos Santa Cruz 10 kills
Ife Loverton 9 kills, 5 blocks
Teddy Payne 34 assists, 7 digs

Up Next:
The Pioneers will play Saint Francis University on Thursday, April 20, in Loretto, Pa., at 7 p.m. in the second round of the NEC Tournament.