FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team is preparing for the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship Tournament hosted by Saint Francis University this week, beginning with the quarterfinal on Wednesday. SHU enters the tournament as the #6 seed and will face #3 LIU at 4:00 p.m.
 
The Pioneers have faced the Sharks twice this season and dropped both matches 3-0. SHU finished its regular season 11-19 and 3-9 in NEC play.
 
LIU finished its regular season 14-12 and 8-4 in NEC play. The Sharks played an impressive non-conference schedule facing a handful of nationally-ranked teams. They defeated #12 Lewis 3-1 away. First year Roei Horovitz has earned three First Point/NEC Rookie of the Week awards. The Israel native has played setter for the Sharks and secured 320 assists, 81 digs and 28 kills. Sophomore opposite and outside hitter Kale Spencer has led the Sharks offensively with 257 kills and 50 blocks.
 
Patrick Mucherino led the Pioneers this season with a total of 427 kills and is fifth in the nation in kills per set with 4.23. He has also accumulated two First Point/NEC Player of the Week awards. On March 29^th against George Mason, Mucherino reached his 1,000^th career kill.
 
Carlos Santa Cruz has also played well offensively the season, hitting 0.284, and tallied 288 kills. The Guaynabo, P.R., native has also been essential at the service line, securing 25 aces throughout the season.
 
Teddy Payne has played at setter for the Pioneers, securing 754 assists this season. Payne reached his 1,000^th career assist against Harvard on January 26^th. The Buffalo, N.Y. native reached his career match high in assists on March 15^th against Merrimack with 49 and he has matched that again against Springfield on April 9^th.
 
Bartek Olczyk and Petr Beranek have contributed to the Pioneers as first year players. Beranek as an outside hitter has earned two First Point/NEC Rookie of the Week awards while hitting an average of .218 and tallied 86 kills. Olczyk as libero and defensive specialist has been a key contributor off the bench and as a starter with 71 digs.