BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In two matches that both went over two hours long, the LIU volleyball team waged battles against Sacred Heart in the Steinberg Wellness Center Friday afternoon and evening. In the end, the defending Northeast Conference champions won both by the narrowest of margins, 3-2.
In the first game of the day, the Sharks took a 2-1 match lead before Sacred Heart won an epic fourth set and rolled into the fifth, winning 25-18, 25-27, 20-25, 32-30, 15-9.
In the second game, the Pioneers rode that momentum, dominating in the first two sets, before the Sharks won sets three and four to force a fifth. But SHU would take the narrow win there as well, 25-14, 25-22, 25-27, 16-25, 15-12.
After Friday's action, LIU moved to 4-2 in the NEC, while Sacred Heart improved to 6-0.
SHARK BITES
- The Sharks were led by sophomore Karolina Nova in game one. The outside hitter had 21 kills, 27 digs and six blocks for LIU.
- Senior Jovana Stekovic added 17 kills, two service aces and 15 digs, while Barbora Hoskova had 11 kills and 10 digs for the team's third double double.
- Miranda Strongman added 11 kills, six blocks and six digs.
- Freshman setter Allie Merz had 44 assists and nine digs for the Sharks, while sophomore Anastasia Scott had a team high 37 digs in the match.
- In game two, Kristina Mamic was an absolute force at the net, registering 11 total blocks, including two solo.
- Nova led the Sharks with another double double, with 20 kills and 14 digs, along with two blocks, while Stekovic had 16 kills and 19 digs.
- Scott added another 38 digs on defense for LIU, while Hoskova had five blocks at the net.
- Freshman setter Ainsley Malis had 46 assists in game two, with nine digs.
- Up next, the Sharks head north, to take on CCSU in a doubleheader on the road, Wednesday, March 17.
