BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, N.Y. - Brooklyn women's volleyball team opened the 2024 season with a split of a Friday afternoon tri-match hosted by Baruch College. The Bears picked up a 3-1 victory over Bryn Mawr College (25-18, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22) before falling to the Bearcats, 0-3 (23-25, 21-25, 20-25).

The win over Bryn Mawr marked the first with Sean Salomons at the program's helm.

How it Happened vs. Bryn Mawr

The Bears kicked off the match with a strong start, quickly establishing a 5-1 lead in the first set with Jillian McGinty (Glendale, N.Y./Queens Metropolitan) contributing two early kills. Although the Owls fought back to equalize, the Bears maintained their edge. With the score at 13-10, Bryn Mawr surged, scoring five of the next six points to take a 15-14 lead. However, St. Joseph's regained control, finishing the set 25-18, fueled by a stretch of four kills from Martina Urgo's (Astoria, N.Y./St. John's Prep)

The Owls opened the second stanza with a commanding 10-2 lead. The Bears managed to trim their deficit and took the lead towards the tail-end of the set, 22-21. Urgo and newcomer Taylor Knight (San Ramon, Calif./Dougherty Valley) combined for seven kills in the frame. However, Bryn Mawr took the set, 24-26.

The final two sets saw a combined 25 ties and 12 lead changes with Knight and McGinty each providing five kills. After trading points for much of the third set, the Bears – trailing 17-16 – used a 6-0 spurt to distance themselves from the Owls; winning the set, 25-19.

The final two sets were back-and-forth, featuring 25 ties and 12 lead changes. The Bears saw themselves down 17-16 in the third but rallied with a decisive 6-0 run to secure a 25-19 victory. Knight and McGinty each contributed five kills in the set. 

Knight delivered seven kills in the fourth set, and Urgo, McGinty, and Juliette DiVittorio (Astoria, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) combined for six service aces, leading the Bears to a 25-22 win and clinching their first match of the season with a 3-1 overall victory.

How it Happened vs. Baruch

The Bears saw an early 9-4 lead in the first but a 10-1 stretch from the Bearcats saw the lead change hands, 10-4. St. Joseph's reclaimed the lead, 17-16, before Baruch once again restored their advantage as they held on to the 25-23 edge.

Although Urgo and Knight spearheaded the Bears' offense in the second set, the Bearcats prevailed, 25-21. In the third set, Baruch dominated with 12 kills to the Bears' five, sealing the straight-set win.

For the Bears vs. Bryn Mawr

• In her SJBK debut, Knight slammed 19 kills and brought up 16 digs.

• Urgo also registered a double-double of 12 kills and as many digs. She also had four service aces.

• McGinty had 12 kills at a .526 rate and led the team with six aces.

• Rookies DiVittorio and Jenna Diaz (Middle Village, N.Y./Townsend Harris) had 11 and 13 digs, respectively.

• Rachel Meltsin (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) had 35 assists, six digs, and four aces.

For the Bears vs. Baruch

• Knight led the side with 11 kills to go with six digs.

• Urgo finished with a match-high 16 digs, adding six kills and three aces to her stat line.

• Meltsin had 14 assists and eight digs. Diaz also brought up six digs.

Up Next

The Bears travel to Jamaica, Queens to face York College, N.Y. on Thursday, September 5 at 6 pm.