FAIRFIELD, CONN. – In a potential preview of next week's Northeast Conference Tournament, the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team took on Fairleigh Dickinson Friday. The Pioneers came out on top 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 31-29) for their 12^th win in a row.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 20-8, 12-1 NEC 
Fairleigh Dickinson: 14-15, 8-5 NEC
 
Top Performers:
Reghan Palanchi: 10 kills, 5 blocks, .529 hitting %
Sarah Ciszek: 40 assists
Brooke Jeffrey: 10 kills, 6 blocks
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart wraps up the regular season Saturday versus Saint Francis at 5 p.m.
 
Of Note:
Sacred Heart had a .308-to-.167 hitting advantage thanks to a season-high 13 blocks, the most by the Pioneers since 14 in the 2021 NEC Tournament semifinals.
 
The Knights pulled within 20-19 in the first set, but a Sacred Heart block and kills from Jasmine Rogers and Camryn Luginbuhl push the set in SHU's favor.
 
The serve of libero Emma Smallcomb broke open the second frame as she capped a 6-0 run with three-straight aces. Prior to the match, SHU recognized Smallcomb for setting the school's all-time digs record which now stands at 2,015 after a match-high 13.
 
SHU found itself down 21-18 in the third set, but the hosts used a 4-1 run to tie the set 23-23 on a Kate Anderson kill. The Knights held off three SHU points before Reghan Palanchi came through with a kill then she and Luginbuhl combined for a block to end the match.
 
Setter Sarah Ciszek dished out 40 assists as five different Pioneers had seven or more kills. Palanchi and Brooke Jeffrey led the way with 10 each. Luginbuhl just missed a double-double with eight kills and 10 digs.
 
Tying a career-high with seven blocks was Anderson. She was one of five Pios with three or more rejections.