FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart men's volleyball team opens its season on the road at FDU on Friday at 6 p.m. 
 
PRESENTING YOUR PIOS
The Pioneers welcome transfers Aleksa Mandic, Austin Buchanan and Ken Naples, while returning key players Jaron Popp, Carter Lyons and Petr Beranek.
 
Popp returns as a sophomore after tallying 115 kills, 21 aces, 34 digs and 44 blocks in 85 sets last year. Popp was named Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Week on February 4.
 
Lyons, a junior opposite hitter, appeared in 22 matches tallying 40 kills, 17 digs and seven blocks for the Pioneers last season.
 
Also returning for the Pioneers, is Beranek, a sophomore outside hitter. The Czechia native appeared in 19 matches for the Pios tallying 86 kills, 10 aces and nine blocks while also securing NEC Rookie of the Week twice (1/23 and 4/1).
 
Mandic, an outside hitter, comes from Missouri Baptist and Hawai'i – playing his 2024 season at Missouri Baptist. In the 2024 season, Mandic totaled 362 kills, averaged 3.66 kills per set, 20 assists, 106 digs, and 63 aces in 26 matches and 99 sets. 
 
Buchanan, a graduate setter, comes from from Hawai'i. The Idaho native appeared in one match for the Rainbow Warriors last season against Loyola Chicago.
 
Naples, a redshirt senior middle blocker, comes from Lindenwood. The Buffalo, N.Y., native played in nine sets and four matches last season recording 16 kills and four aces.
 
ON THE KNIGHTS
Opposite to the Pios, the Knights return a veteran team including Jamal Ellis Carballo and Grady Hoffman.
 
Elli secured national rankings as a sophomore in attacks per set, points per set and kills per set. Hoffman, a libero, also ranked eighth national for digs per set.
 
The Knights were selected second in the NEC Preseason Poll behind Saint Francis. Due to fires out west, FDU's first three matches this season were cancelled but picked up  3-1 win over Barry Wednesday night prior to Friday's match.
 
ALL TIME SERIES
The Pioneers have fallen to the Knights in the last three match ups, the most recent being last season on April 6 where the Pios fell 3-1.