(03-26-08)
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Chris Yantz had 16 kills and Kalani Efsthathiou added 15 to lead Sacred Heart University to a 3-1 victory over University of New Haven in EIVA men's volleyball action Wednesday night at the Pitt Center. The Pioneers picked up their first EIVA win of the season by scores of 30-28, 27-30, 30-27, 30-27.
In a match in which neither team could gain a true advantage in any game, both teams had players turn in excellent individual efforts. For Sacred Heart, in addition to Yantz and Efstathiou, BJ Smith had 11 kills while Daniel Donohue had 10 digs on the defensive end.
For the Chargers, senior Chris Lennon turned in a match high 20 kills and 14 digs in a losing effort. Meanwhile, senior Tommy Musto rang up 13 kills and Matt Soderstrom recorded 11 winners. Libero John Sedlock had a match high 15 digs for New Haven.
Game one saw New Haven jump out to a 12-8 lead before the Pioneers rallied to tie the game at 13. The Chargers eventually took a 23-21 lead but SHU won six of the next seven points to earn a 27-24 edge. After New Haven tied it again at 28, the Pioneers were able to win the final two points to take the game. Efstathiou had nine kills in the opening game for Sacred Heart.
Neither team gained more than a two point advantage at any point in game two until the Chargers won the final three points to turn a 27-27 tie into a 30-27 victory. Lennon and Musto each had six kills in the second game for UNH while Efstathiou had five winners for SHU.
The Pioneers twice built five point leads midway through the third game at 16-11 and 18-13. The Chargers cut the lead down to one three, drawing to within 22-21, 25-24 and 27-26. However, the Pioneers were able to win three of the last four points to take the game. Yantz put down six winners for the Pioneers in the third game.
Sacred Heart again jumped out to a lead early in the fourth game, going up 10-3. SHU led 20-15 before the Chargers staged another rally to tie the game at 23. The Pioneers never trailed, however, and eventually won three of the final four points to earn the match victory. Smith recorded seven kills in the clinching game for SHU.
UNH hosts Ramapo in a non-conference match at Charger Gymnasium on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.
