FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team fell to FDU Saturday evening, 3-1. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 10-16, 2-7 NEC
FDU: 10-12, 4-5 NEC
 
Top Performers:
Patrick Mucherino: 25 kills (.333), 3 blocks, 4 digs, 27 points
Carlos Santa Cruz: 10 kills (.167), 1 block, 6 digs, 10.5 points
Teddy Payne: 48 assists, 11 digs
 
How It Happened:
The Knights opened the match by taking the first three points before building their advantage to five by the 10-5 mark. The FDU lead hovered around five for the remainder of the set until it clinched a 25-21 win. 
 
After a back-and-forth start to the second set, the Knights got out to an early 5-2 lead before SHU evened the score at 6-6. The Pios rode a 6-1 run to take an 8-6 advantage. Sacred Heart led by as much as six in the frame, 17-11, before FDU started to eat away at the lead. The Knights evened the score at 19-19 with a 6-1 run of their own, riding this momentum to a 25-23 victory. 
 
FDU took an early 6-1 run in the third. SHU slowly battled back throughout the set at tied with the Knights at 21. Carlos Santa Cruz had two back-to-back kills to propel the Pioneers to a 25-23 win.
 
Although the Pioneers gained an early lead in the fourth, they ultimately fell to FDU 25-19.
 
Patrick Mucherino led the Pioneers with 25 kills and 27 points. At setter, Teddy Payne tallied 48 assists and led the Pioneers with 11 digs.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers are home for the final time this season on Tuesday, April 9, with a 6 p.m. bout against Springfield at Notre Dame Fairfield High School.