FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team fell to Springfield College Tuesday evening, 3-2, in its final home match of the 2024 season. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 10-18, 2-8 NEC
Springfield: 19-6
 
Top Performers:
Carlos Santa Cruz: 23 kills (.488), 6 digs, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 24.5 points
Patrick Mucherino: 12 kills (.179), 2 blocks, 2 digs, 13.5 points
Carlos Terrassa: 10 kills (.192), 6 aces, 6 digs, 2 assists, 16 points
Teddy Payne: 49 assists, 9 digs
 
How It Happened:
The Pioneers secured an early four-point lead in the first set with two back-to-back aces from Carlos Terrassa. The Pride responded with a 6-1 run to take a one-point lead. The teams battled through 19 ties with back-and-forth play, but Springfield took the first set, 28-26.
 
The Pioneers held the lead throughout the second, as SHU outhit the Pride .481 to .360 and held a 16-to-11 kill advantage. Sacred Heart used their hitting momentum to secured a 25-19 win.
 
The third set was closely contested as the teams battled back and forth through six lead changes. Terrassa propelled the Pioneers through the Prides' set point with a kill and an ace. SHU secured a 29-27 win on two Springfield attack errors.
 
The Pioneers were unable to come back from an early Springfield lead in the fourth and fell 25-14.
 
In the fifth set, the teams battled through 10 ties, but the Pioneers ultimately dropped the frame 15-13 and the match 3-2.
 
Carlos Santa Cruz led the Pioneer offense with 23 kills, hitting .488. Terrassa was swinging well behind the service line and secured six aces. Terrassa also tallied 10 kills and six digs. At setter, Teddy Payne matched his career high of 49 assists while also securing a team high of nine digs.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers head to Buffalo, N.Y. to face D'Youville University Friday, April 12^th, at 6:00 p.m.