LA JOLLA, Cali. – The Sacred Heart men's volleyball team fell to UC San Diego, 3-0, on Wednesday night in California for game two of four of the Pios Cali spring break stint. The Pioneers made the Tritons work for it keeping the set scores tight - 25-20, 25-22, and 25-22.
 
Records:
SHU: (3-9,0-6 EIVA)
UC San Diego: (13-4,0-0 BIG WEST)
 
Top Performers:
Aleksa Mandic: 6 kills (.222), 2 aces, 8 digs
Austin Buchanan: 16 assists, 2 blocks, 2 aces, 3 digs
 
How It Happened:
The Tritons secured four straight kills in the first set to take an early lead. The Pios quickly responded with two from Aaron Johnson and Aleksa Mandic. The teams traded service errors to keep the game within three, but the Pios were unable to catch UC San Diego and ultimately fell 25-20.
 
The two teams traded leads as they battling through four ties. A kill from Jaron Popp tied the game at 22 for the Pios but the Tritons secured three unanswered points for the set win.
 
The third set was intense as both teams secured five-plus unanswered runs shifting the momentum the entirety of the set. UCSD secured a 5-0 run to take a five-point lead and the Pioneers responded with a five-point unanswered run to tie the set at nine.
 
After some back-and-forth play, the Tritons went on a 6-0 run to take a 21-14 lead. While the match seemed decided then, the Pios did not go down without a fight as they secured a 6-1 run to come within two, but a kill sealed the deal for the Tritons.
 
The Pios will face No. 1 Long Beach State on Friday, March 7, at 7:00 p.m. PST in California.