Box Score TEANECK, N.J. – The Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to FDU on the road Friday evening, 3-2. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 7-13, 2-5 NEC
FDU: 7-11, 1-4 NEC
 
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino: 21 kills (.161), 2 blocks, 9 digs, 22,5 points
Carlos Santa Cruz: 14 kills (.156), 1 assist, 2 aces, 2 blocks, 9 digs, 17 points
Jaron Popp: 7 kills (.222), 1 assist, 1 ace, 3 blocks, 10 points
 
How It Happened:
The first set saw early back-and-forth play until the Pioneers pulled away on a 7-3 run to put them ahead by five. SHU continued to extend its lead to 19-10 with kills from a handful of Pioneers. SHU secured the 25-21 win with a block from Patrick Mucherino.
 
FDU held the lead for most of the second and SHU was unable to close the gap falling 25-21. 
 
The third set was closely contested as the teams battled through 10 ties. A kill by Jaron Popp and block assists from Popp and Carlos Santa Cruz secured a Pioneer match point before Sacred Heart took a 25-22 win.
 
SHU dropped the fourth 25-21 but secured 11 kills hitting .147.

Tied at 2-2, the teams headed to a deciding fifth set. Back-and-forth play led to FDU holding a 7-6 lead before a 3-1 SHU run gave the visitors a 9-8 advantage. Unfortunately for the Pios, the Knights ended the set and the match with a 7-2 run to take a 15-11 victory to seal a five-set win.
 
Mucherino led the Pioneer offense with 21 kills hitting .161. He also secured nine digs and two blocks. Santa Cruz was behind him with 14 kills and hit .156. First year Popp also hit well with seven kills. Teddy Payne led the team with 36 assists, while Cade Trujillo had nine.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers will travel to Merrimack tomorrow March 22, to face the Warriors at 5:00 p.m.