Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
5-3,0-0EIVA
St. Thomas Aquinas College
3-7,0-0ECC
Pios Fall to Spartans
2/6/2026 9:15:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Sacred Heart hosts Daemen next Saturday
FAIRFIELD, CONN - The Sacred Heart University Men's Volleyball team fell to the Saint Thomas Aquinas Spartans 3-0 on Friday Night in the Pitt Center.
Records:
Sacred Heart (5-3)
St. Thomas Aquinas (3-7)
Top Performers:
Petr Beranek - 12 kills
Armaan Dosanjh : 36 assists
How It Happened:
Sacred Heart and St. Thomas Aquinas traded points early in the opening set, with kills from Petr Beranek and Jaron Popp helping the Pioneers stay within striking distance. The score remained tight through the first half, but the Spartans began to create separation behind efficient swings from Jakob Schwarz and Luis Grath, forcing Sacred Heart to play from behind.
Despite timely kills from Aleksa Mandic and Beranek, the Spartans continued to pressure the Pioneers at the service line and on the block, slowly extending their lead into the late stages. Sacred Heart cut into the deficit multiple times, but the Spartans answered each run with key points, closing the set on a block to take Set 1, 25–19.
The second set was tightly contested from the opening serve, with neither side able to build early separation. Sacred Heart answered every St. Thomas Aquinas push, leaning on strong swings from Austin Buchanan, Ivo Dubs, and Petr Beranek to keep the score level through the middle of the frame.
As the set wore on, the Pioneers began to find rhythm at the net, putting together a brief run fueled by kills from Dubs and Beranek and a pair of timely blocks that gave Sacred Heart a slim late advantage. However, St. Thomas Aquinas responded behind the arm of Kyran Versteegen and a tough stretch from the service line, erasing the deficit and forcing another tight finish.
With the score knotted late, the Spartans closed the set with back-to-back points, including a late service ace, to edge Sacred Heart 25–23 and take a two-set lead.
Sacred Heart showed fight early in the third set, trading points with St. Thomas Aquinas and getting strong net play from Ivo Dubs and Aleksa Mandic to stay close in the opening stretch. The Pioneers continued to battle through several long rallies, answering STA runs with timely kills and a pair of blocks to keep the margin within reach.
Midway through the set, the Spartans began to pull away behind consistent offense from Kyran Versteegen and Jakob Schwarz, using efficient swings and steady sideouts to stretch their lead. Sacred Heart made a late push, highlighted by kills from Jack Krausz and Mandic, trimming the deficit in the closing points, but the Spartans closed the door to take the set 25–23 and complete the sweep.
Of Note:
Petr Beranek had a team-high 12 kills.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart will face the Daemen University Wildcats on Saturday, February 14th at 4:00 pm in the Pitt Center
