SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A third-straight Northeast Conference championship is within reach for the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team. The second-seeded Pioneers opened the NEC Tournament by defeating LIU, 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 25-18) in the first semifinal match on Friday.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 18-9 
LIU: 13-14
 
Top Performers:
Sarah Ciszek (SHU): 42 assists, 10 kills, 13 digs
Olivia Fairchild (SHU): 21 kills, 5 blocks, .385 hitting %
Dominique Felix (SHU): 12 kills, 15 digs
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart will face the winner of the Bryant-Saint Francis match at 3 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
Of Note:
Sacred Heart played equally well on offense and defense. The Pioneers hit .263 – including .317 in the first two sets – while holding LIU to .174. SHU also had a 77-65 advantage in digs thanks to a match-high 17 from libero Emma Smallcomb.
 
A Pioneer error tied set one, 19-19, but Sacred Heart responded with a 4-0 run that featured two kills, a Sarah Ciszek ace and block by Olivia Fairchild and Kate Anderson.
 
Reghan Palanchi's kill and LIU error broke a 17-17 tie in set to give Sacred Heart a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the frame.
 
Sacred Heart made sure the fourth set was never in doubt, jumping out to a 6-1 lead that included three blocks before pushing the margin to 10-2.
 
Ciszek moved into a tie for second nationally with her sixth triple-double thanks to 42 assists, 10 kills and 13 digs. Fairchild picked a good time to post a career-high 21 kills. Dominique Felix followed with 12 kills and added 15 digs for a double-double.