BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, N.Y. – Brooklyn men's volleyball team opened the 2025 season with a 0-3 (18-25, 00-25, 00-25) defeat to Brooklyn College on Tuesday evening from The Hill Center.

How it Happened

After snatching the opening point in set one, the Bears quickly fell 9-3 and were forced into calling a timeout. The Bears brought the deficit down to 13-11 thanks to attacking play from Frank Rivera (Astoria, N.Y.) and Jeremias Martinez (Elmhurst, N.Y.). It was the closest they got to the visitors before they took the set, 25-18.

A 7-1 start for Brooklyn College was enough to claim the set, 25-20; despite the Bears trailing by as little as four at 21-17 and 24-20. Martinez led the side with three kills in the set with attacking contributions from Rivera, Mark Belov (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and Gianfranco Guerraci (Elizabeth, N.J.).

The Bears led for much of the third set, aiming for a reverse sweep. However, at 15-8, the Bulldogs chipped at the SJBK advantage, resulting in five ties and a pair of lead changes. Kills from Guerraci and Christopher Armstrong III (Buffalo, N.Y.) towards the latter stages of the set resulted in a 26-24 win. Unfortunately, the Bears could not maintain their momentum as the Bulldogs won the fourth set, 25-9, to secure the match, 3-1.

For the Bears

• Martinez flirted with a double-double in his first collegiate match, posting seven kills and nine digs. He also had three aces.

• Rivera also logged seven kills.

• Guerraci had 18 assists, four digs, and three kills. He and Armstrong also had service aces.

• Matthew Kotastos (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with nine digs and a pair of kills.

Up Next

The Bears are back at The Hill Center on Thursday, January 30 against City College (N.Y.) with first serve slated for 7 pm.