Sacred Heart University

Season Outlook  

Building Blocks

After losing just two players to graduation from the 2006 squad, this year's version of the Sacred Heart men's volleyball will look to continue to grow as a program and compete for a championship in the Hay Division of the EIVA. The Pioneers are seeking to improve on last year's team and become a perennial force in the league.

Leading this year's veteran Pioneer squad is senior middle hitter John Breen. Breen led the team in nearly every offensive category last year, including piling up 213 kills and averaging more then three winners per game. He registered a team high 21 service aces and team leading 51 blocks. Breen was second on the team in digs (98) and assists (165). He will be hoping to build on those numbers as he leads his team to the court this season.

While Breen patrols the center of the court for SHU, sophomore Barry Smith will be the main force hitting on the outside. Smith was the Pioneers second leading scorer throughout last season, as he registered 173 kills, an average of 2.40 per game. Smith was second on the team in service aces (17) and blocks (50) and third in digs with 90.

Junior Dan DuVall returns for his first full season as the Pioneers primary setter. After taking over as the starting setter early last year, DuVall led the team in assists with 547 on the season, an average of nearly 10 per game.

Up front, SHU's twin brothers Brendan and Peter Donahue form the Pioneers middle blocking tandem as the first line of defense at the net. Brendan was third on the team in blocks, piling up 37 in 53 game appearances. Meanwhile, Peter had seven blocks in 16 games played during the 2006 season.

Also returning on the Pioneer attack are junior hitters Brian Rosa and Chris Yantz and senior Mike Ivers. Rosa and Ivers each tallied over 100 kills last season, both averaging more than two kills per game. Ivers also finished third on the 2006 squad with nine service aces to his credit.

The biggest hole for the Pioneers to fill will be at libero where two year starter Brent Monden was lost to graduation. Three of the five newcomers to Sacred Heart's side have some experience at that position so SHU will look to them to step up. On the attack, Michael Cortina, Kalani Efstathiou and Scott Grandpre all join the lineup. Daniel Glum will join the twins at the net as a blocker, while Casey Leib could be the Pioneers new man with the dark jersey as libero. Efstathiou and Cortina each could play the libero position as well.

Sacred Heart's 2007 schedule includes 14 home games at the William H. Pitt Center. The Pioneers open the season on Monday night, January 22nd, with a home game against Lasell. After a tri-match with Newbury and Elms College on the 27th, SHU returns to the Pitt Center for three more home games, welcoming NJIT and Stevens Tech, as well as EIVA rival Springfield in the conference opener on February 6th.

Sacred Heart will host their own tri-meet on Saturday, February 17th. The Pioneers will face Mount Olive and Endicott College during the competition. The Pioneers then head on the road for three straight games, visiting NJIT on February 22nd, and then going against EIVA rivals Springfield and Vassar. The Pioneers host Hunter on March 11th.

After a visit to Harvard on March 17th, the Pioneers will not have to leave the state of Connecticut again, playing five of their final six games at home. SHU will welcome Rivier on March 20th, followed by dates with conference foes New Haven, NYU and Vassar. The Pioneers visit New Haven on April 12th and close out the regular season against Saint Francis (PA) on April 13th at the Pitt Center.