BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team defeated Yeshiva University, 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 27-25) on Wednesday night at The Hill Center.
On their senior night, the quartet of Alex Helfant (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy International), Frank Rivera (Astoria, N.Y./Gramercy Arts), Frank Tello (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy International), and Leonel Bravo (Astoria, N.Y./Queens Vocational and Technical) combined for 37 digs, 32 kills, and 10 service aces.
How it Happened
The first set remained close throughout. Helfant slammed five kills in the frame while Lasha Kemashvili (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) totaled four. The Bears saw a 21-16 lead but, following a Yeshiva timeout, the lead reduced to 23-22. Rivera and Kemashvili kills at the end of the set sealed the 25-23 set result.
The second stanza saw the Bears coast to a 25-14 win. Rivera served up three of the team's five aces in the set, all in consecutive fashion, while Helfant again propelled the attack with eight kills.
The Bears saw an early lead in the third but the Maccabees managed to keep the score close. Despite maintaining the lead with kills from Helfant, Kemashvili and Rivera midway through, Yeshiva forged a late rally, from trailing 16-15 deficit to leading 22-21. Coming out of a Bears timeout, Helfant and Tello combined for four kills to confirm the navy and gray's 27-25 set win and 3-0 match victory.
For the Bears
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Helfant produced 18 kills, 12 digs, and four aces.
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Bravo brought up 10 digs to go with three assists.
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Kemashvili had nine kills and an ace.
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Rivera narrowly missed out on a double-double, logging nine digs and eight kills.
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Tello had six kills and as many digs.
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Keiran McMullan (Farmingdale, N.Y./Plainedge) dished out 35 assists, one shy of matching his season best.
Up Next
The Bears welcomes Manhattanville College to The Hill Center on Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m.
