FAIRFAX, Va. – The Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team dropped a road match to George Mason Friday night, 3-1, in road non-conference action.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 8-14, 2-6 NEC
George Mason: 14-7, 3-2 EIVA
 
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino: 19 kills (.180), 2 assists, 2 aces, 2 blocks, 4 digs, 22 points
Carlos Santa Cruz: 11 kills (.103), 1 ace, 2 blocks, 9 digs, 13.5 points
Teddy Payne: 33 assists, 6 digs, 1 ace
 
How It Happened:
In the first set, the Patriots got an early 14-5 lead after going on a 10-1 run. The Pioneers battled for late back-and-forth play, but ultimately fell 25-14. With his fourth kill in the first set, Patrick Mucherino tallied his 1,000th career kill.
 
SHU overcame a five-point deficit in the second set, getting three kills from Mucherino, one from Carlos Santa Cruz and one from Petr Beranek. The Pioneers went on to win the second set 26-24 after a kill from Beranek.
 
In the third set, the Pioneers secured more kills and blocks than the Patriots with 12 and three, respectively, but fell short 25-20.
 
SHU struggled at the net in the fourth while the Patriots hit well. The Pioneers dropped the frame 25-14.
 
Leading the Pioneers was Mucherino with 19 kills and 22 points. Santa Cruz secured 11 kills and paced the Pioneers in digs alongside Cole Younger with nine. At setter, Teddy Payne tallied 33 assists and six digs.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers head to Stevenson tomorrow, March 30^th, for a tri-match against Misericordia at 3:00 p.m. and Stevenson at 5:00 p.m.