FAIRFIELD, CONN. – With its back against the wall, the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team responded like a champion. The Pioneers came through in the fifth set for the 3-2 (25-14, 25-20, 16-25, 24-26, 15-10) victory over LIU in the semifinals of the Northeast Conference Tournament on Friday.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 21-9
LIU: 14-13
 
Top Performers:
Sarah Ciszek: 59 assists, 9 digs, 8 kills
Reghan Palanchi: 16 kills, 8 blocks, .538 hitting %
Camryn Luginbuhl: 20 kills, 12 digs
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart will take on Fairleigh Dickinson in the championship match on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
Of Note:
Sacred Heart was in complete control of the first two sets, hitting .397 as it took a 2-0 lead. Reghan Palanchi had nine kills in the first two sets and Sarah Ciszek handed out 27 assists. 
 
The Sharks turned the tables in set three and were on the verge of elimination down 18-15 in the fourth set. A 9-4 run gave LIU set point, but back-to-back LIU errors tied the frame. The visitors won the last two points to force a deciding set.
 
LIU had a 5-4 lead in set five, but another Palanchi kill sparked an 8-0 Sacred Heart run on the serve of Lilian Vargo.  Palanchi & Camryn Luginbuhl had three kills apiece during the run then the duo added two more to seal the victory.
 
Both teams ran efficient offensives with SHU holding the .325-to-.301 hitting advantage. The Pioneers also had 63 digs to LIU's 55.
 
Ciszek dished out a season-high 59 assists, her most since she posted 60 against the Sharks on September 28, 2019. She just missed a triple double with nine digs and eight kills.
 
Six players had eight or more kills, topped by Luginbuhl's match-high 20 winners. She added 12 digs for her sixth double-double of the year. Also recording a double-double was Jasmine Rogers with 13 kills and 10 digs. Palanchi produced 16 kills while hitting .538.