CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Sacred Heart University men's volleyball team suffered a sweep at the hands of Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) foe Harvard, who is 3-1 in league play, on Sunday afternoon in Cambridge, Mass.

Jaron Popp led the way for the Pios with 10 kills, his fourth 10+ kill outing of the season. Aleksa Mandic was second on the team with nine kills, while Austin Buchanan tallied 25 assists on the team's 30 kills. 
 
RECORDS 
Sacred Heart: 3-7, 0-7 EIVA 
Harvard: 5-5, 3-1 EIVA 
 
SHU LEADERS 
Jaron Popp: 10 kills, 1 block
Aleksa Mandic: 9 kills, 2 digs, 1 block
Austin Buchanan: 25 assists, 3 blocks, 3 digs

HOW IT HAPPENED 
The opening set was closely contested as the margin hovered around three for its duration. SHU went up first, 3-1, before the Crimson rallied to take a 4-3 advantage. Both teams traded runs from there until the Pioneers built a 14-11 lead following a 4-1 surge at the midway point. 

An Austin Buchanan ace forced a late Harvard timeout with SHU leading 22-19. The Crimson answered with four straight to take the advantage at 23-22. The Pios answered to tie the score twice, but Harvard scored two straight at 24-all to earn a 26-24 victory. The Crimson hit a strong .409 in the first, while SHU hit a stellar .267. 

Harvard started the second on a 5-1 run before Sacred Heart retaliated by winning six of the next nine points to set the deficit at 8-7. The Pios trailed by two at 13-11 before the Crimson took over the frame. Harvard ended the second on a 12-4 run to earn a 25-15 win. 

Harvard got off to another quick start in the third, leading 4-1 before SHU quickly tied the score at 5-5. The teams then went back and forth before a 6-0 Crimson surge put the home team ahead 14-8. Harvard kept the pedal down late with a 24-16 lead. Sacred Heart rallied by fighting off four match points, but the Crimson sealed the 25-16 win with a service error. 

UP NEXT 
Sacred Heart begins a swing in California on Monday, Mar. 3, playing CSUN at 6 p.m. in Northridge, Calif.