Sacred Heart University men's volleyball currently stands at 3-1 overall this season. Most recently, the Pioneers took its first loss of the season to Purdue Fort Wayne in four sets, a team the Red Flash went 1-1 with already this season. The Sacred Heart squad currently sits at fifth place overall in conference.
 
When the Red Flash and Pioneers meet on Friday, it will be the first conference matchup for the Pioneers.
 
For Sacred Heart, Patrick Mucherino sits in the top five for the EIVA in kills per set and hitting percentage with 3.67 and .383, respectively. Mucherino leads his team in kills with 55 on the season. While Teddy Payne leads the Pioneers in assists and service aces this season.

THE WORD ON THE CRIMSON
Harvard University men's volleyball sits at 2-4 overall. With their most recent game being a loss to Purdue Fort Wayne in four sets, just like Sacred Heart.
 
The Crimson currently rank seventh in the EIVA. For the Crimson, Ethan Smith ranks second overall in the EIVA with a .414 hitting percentage. Smith follows closely behind Red Flash men's volleyball middle blocker, Thomas Leahey with a .468 hitting percentage. While James Bardin for Harvard stands at second place in the EIVA in assists per set with 8.85.

LAST TIME OUT 
Most recently, Red Flash men's volleyball defeated George Mason University and Princeton University to go 4-4 overall and undefeated in conference and at home. After Thomas Leahey led in blocks for both matches the sophomore earned EIVA Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Blake Liprando led the squad in kills and digs in the team's match against George Mason. While Joshua Blair finished on top in kills in Saturday's match against Princeton.
 
Additionally, Ryan Parker stood out in his setter position to lead both teams this weekend overall in assists. Parker now stands at third in the EIVA in assists per set to average 8.74.

LAST TIME WE MET
The Red Flash stand at 25-4 overall against the Pioneers. Saint Francis and Sacred Heart men's volleyball programs met twice last season with the Red Flash winning both matches. The Pioneers only claimed one set over the Red Flash in last season's matches.

For the Crimmson, the Red Flash are 11-13 overall with the least meeting between the two programs being in the 2020 season. The Red Flash lost that match in five set battle.

UP NEXT
Following this week's matches, the Red Flash return to Pa., for a home match against Queens University of Charlotte on Feb. 18 at 7:00 then the squad will take a short trip to State College, Pa., for a match against the EIVA number one ranked Penn State University on Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m.