FAIRFIELD, Conn. -  The Daemen men's volleyball team saw its 13-match winning streak come to an end this afternoon following a 3-2 setback (18-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-21, 12-15) to the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the William H. Pitt Center. Daemen fought back after dropping the first two sets and forced the match to a fifth and deciding frame before succumbing for the first time since February 29, 2020. 

Daemen, which opened the season with a 3-0 sweep of first-year program American International last night, dropped to 1-1 on the season. Sacred Heart, a member of NCAA Division I and the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, improved to 1-0. The Wildcats-Pioneers matchup was the only action in what was originally scheduled to be a tri-match. A third participating team, the Vassar Brewers, was forced to bow out of today's action due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Junior outside hitter Zach Schneider (Lockport, N.Y.) had a career day, finishing with 22 kills on 41 total attacks and five block assists - all career-highs. It was Schneider's first action of the season after he sat out last night's win at AIC. 
• Couzens, a junior middle hitter, tallied nine total blocks, tying the program record for a single match. 
• Junior outside hitter Ryan Parker (Fairport, N.Y.) contributed to the team's effort with 11 kills and five digs.
• Daemen was once again without their top two setters, focring Patzer, normally an opposite hitter, into emergency duty. He responded with a career-high 42 assists.
• Senior defensive specialist Jaden Gillette (Spencerport, N.Y.) tossed in a team-high eight digs - his most since Feb. 9, 2020 vs. Urbana - and sophomore middle/opposite Cameron Milligan (Pavilion, N.Y.) chipped in six kills and a career-high six digs.
• Patrick Muchereno paced a balanced SHU offense with 11 kills while Western New York native Teddy Payne (Buffalo, N.Y.) added 27 assists.

• Daemen competes as an independent member of NCAA Division I-II. Today's match was the second of 19 regular season contests on the Wildcat's 2022 schedule - eight of which are against NCAA Division I opponents.
• The Wildcats return 12 players from their 2021 team that finished 10-0, including their top hitter (Zach Schneider), top setter (Michael Krueger), top back row defender (Ryan Parker) and top net defender (Jake Couzens). 
• Daemen was seeking its first-ever win against a member of the EIVA. The Wildcats are 0-3 all-time against EIVA members. They do own a 3-0 all-time record against St. Francis Brooklyn which is competing in its first season as an EIVA member. Those matches occurred while the program was competing as an independent. 
• Daemen's last loss before today was a 3-2 final against Wells on Feb. 29, 2020.