SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 21, 2006 – Springfield College sophomore outside hitter Eric Palumbo (Rochester, N.Y.) led four players in double figures with 22 kills to go along with six digs and three service aces as the No. 6 Pride defeated Sacred Heart University, 3-2, in Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Conference-Hay Division play this evening at Blake Arena.

SC improves to 9-12 overall on the season and 7-3 in EIVA-Hay action as the Pride won the fifth and decisive game by a score of 16-14 to edge the Pioneers. The match was back and forth the entire way, with Sacred Heart capturing the opening game, 30-21, SC coming back with a win in the second game, 30-15, the Pioneers taking the third game by a 31-29 margin, and the Pride responding in the fourth to force a final game, 30-24.

Freshman outside hitter Ryan Fredrickson (Manahawkin, N.J.), sophomore outside hitter Javier Rosario (San Juan, Puerto Rico), and freshman middle blocker Andrew Sipe (New Oxford, Pa.) joined Palumbo with double digit kills to pace SC in the win. Fredrickson had 18 kills to go along with nine digs, Rosario registered 10 kills on 16 swings with just one error for a .562 hitting percentage, and Sipe added 11 kills and five blocks.

Sacred Heart (1-13, 1-8 EIVA-Hay) sophomore John Breen led the Pioneers with 14 kills, a match-best four service aces, four digs and three blocks, while freshman Barry Smith chipped in with 10 kills.

The Pride will next host Juniata College on Friday night, March 24, in a 7:00 p.m. start.

published: 03/21/2006