FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Through two sets, the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team looked like it was going to cruise to victory in its Northeast Conference match at Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights rallied to force a fifth set, but the Pioneers prevailed 3-2 (25-16, 25-10, 21-25, 18-25, 15-12) on Friday.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 10-8, 3-1 NEC 
Fairleigh Dickinson: 9-11, 3-1 NEC
 
Top Performers:
Sarah Ciszek: 39 assists, 12 digs, 8 kills
Reghan Palanchi: 11 kills, 6 blocks
Emma Smallcomb: 23 digs
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers continue their road swing Saturday when they travel to Saint Francis for a 5 p.m. match.
 
Of Note:
A combination of SHU efficiency and FDU miscues helped the Pioneers jump out to 2-0 lead. Sacred Heart hit .309 in the opening two frames while limiting the Knights to a .018 rate. The hosts cleaned it up in the next two sets to force a deciding frame.
 
In the fifth set, the Pioneers found themselves in an early 6-2 deficit. SHU worked its way back to a 9-8 advantage on a Reghan Palanchi kill. Fairleigh Dickinson regained the lead, 11-10, but then handed SHU the match with four miscues in the final five points.
 
Sacred Heart had the .255-to-.129 hitting advantage and doubled up the Knights, 12-6, in blocks.
 
Topping all players was Palanchi as she produced 11 kills and six blocks. Sophomore Camryn Luginbuhl also reached double-digits with 10 winners.
 
Setter Sarah Ciszek just missed her fifth double-double, recording 39 assists, 12 digs and eight kills. Libero Emma Smallcomb topped the 20-dig mark for the seventh time this season with a match-high 23.