CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Big Ten foe Michigan in its 2023 opener at the Boston College Invitational on Saturday afternoon. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 0-1
Michigan: 1-1
 
Top Performers:
Gaby Zovko: 20 assists, 5 digs
Dominique Felix: 7 kills, 6 digs
Eliana Rodgers: 6 kills, 3 digs, .313 hitting percentage
Camryn Luginbuhl: 6 kills, 5 digs, .286 hitting percentage
 
How It Happened:
The Pioneers came out firing in the first set, taking the first four points to force a Wolverines timeout. SHU answered a Michigan run to keep its lead at four, 8-4. Some back-and-forth play preceded a 4-0 surge by the Pios to build a set-high six-point advantage, 15-9, for SHU to force the Wolverines to take their second timeout of the frame. 

Unfortunately for Sacred Heart, Michigan came out of the stoppage on a tear, scoring the next five points to cut their deficit to one, 15-14. The two teams then began to trade points until the score was tied at 22-all. Michigan scored two of the next three points to have set point, 24-23, but a UM attacking error and an Eliana Rodgers ace gave SHU a 25-24 advantage. The Pios answered another Wolverines set point, but fell on the third one, 28-26, to fall behind 1-0 after the opening set. 

The start of the second frame was close like the first until a 3-0 run by Michigan gave them a 7-3 advantage. The Pios' deficit stayed at four over the next 14 points, as the Wolverines owned a 14-10 advantage midway through the set. At that moment, Michigan turned up the pressure, ending the frame on an 11-3 surge to earn a 25-13 win and to go ahead 2-0.

Michigan started the third set with a 7-2 run to take an early advantage. However, the Pioneers were quick to answer by scoring the next four points to cut the score to one, 7-6. Dominique Felix tallied two kills in the rally, with both coming on assists from Gaby Zovko. The Wolverines were again quick to answer, going on a 5-0 run before building a 10-point advantage, 19-9, shortly after. SHU drew the deficit under 10 on multiple occasions, but dropped the match in straight sets following a 25-15 Michigan win in the third. 

Individually, Felix led the SHU offense with seven kills to go along with six digs. Rodgers and Camryn Luginbuhl finished next on the team with six kills each. In her collegiate debut, Zovko assisted on 20 of SHU's 29 kills. Zovko joined Sloane Rooney as the two Pioneers to appear in their first collegiate match, while transfer Lauren Harrell made her SHU debut. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers conclude the Boston College Invitational tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. when they battle the host Eagles.