FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team defeated St. Thomas Aquinas 4-1 Wednesday night at home for its first win of the 2024 season.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 1-6
St. Thomas Aquinas: 0-7
 
Top Performers:
Carlos Santa Cruz: 12 kills, 3 digs, 1 block
Patrick Mucherino: 11 kills, 2 aces, 4 blocks, 5 digs
Dylan McClung: 8 kills, .667 hitting percentage, 1 ace, 4 blocks
Jaron Popp: 7 kills, 6 blocks, 2 aces
Colin Stevens: 41 assists, 5 blocks, 1 ace
 
How It Happened:
In the first set, the Pioneers went back and forth with the Spartans only ever having a lead of five. After a late timeout by the Spartans, a kill from Patrick Mucherino sent the Pioneers on a 3-1 run to secure the 25-18 win. The Pios tallied 14 kills hitting .458.
 
After being tied at eight in the second, the Spartans went on a 7-3 run to secure a five-point lead with four kills. SHU tried to dig itself out of the five-point hole but was only able to come within two the rest of the game falling 25-23.
 
The Pios dominated the beginning of the third set holding the lead until an error sent the Spartans on a 6-2 run as they tabbed five kills. A series of service errors allowed Sacred Heart to come back tying the game at 20. The Pios went on a 6-2 run to win the third 25-23. 
 
The Spartans led off the fourth with the lead but was plagued with a series of errors allowing SHU to come back and tie the score at 10. Despite the Spartans tallying six more kills than the Pioneers, they totaled seven attack errors and four service errors resulting in a 25-23 win for the Pios.
 
Carlos Santa Cruz and Mucherino both tallied double digit kills with 12 and 11, respectively. Setter, Colin Stevens tabbed a career high of 41 assists and five blocks. Jaron Popp also had a career night with six blocks and seven kills. 
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers return home Friday, Feb. 2^nd, to face AIC at 7:00 p.m.