OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — In their final trip out east, the St. Joseph's University, N.Y. – Brooklyn men's volleyball team picked up a pair of wins on Sunday afternoon; defeating Yeshiva University 3-0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-13) before edging SUNY Old Westbury 3-2 (12-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 15-8).

In the match against the Panthers, the Bears distributed 61 assists, with Gianfranco Guarraci (Elizabeth, N.J.) providing 56, setting both team and individual single-match records for assists.

How it Happened vs. Yeshiva

The Bears opened the match with a commanding 15-1 lead; featuring seven aces from Guarraci, including five-in-a-row to end the run, and kills from Jeremias Martinez (Elmhurst, N.Y.) and Mark Belov (Brooklyn, N.Y.). St. Joseph's took the set 25-8. The second set followed a similar trend; leading 22-6 behind six aces from Keiran McMullan (Farmingdale, N.Y.) before winning 25-9.

Yeshiva kept the third set close, holding the SJBK lead to 11-8 but the Bears – with three aces from Martinez and four kills each from Richard Ortega (Roselle, N.J.) and Matthew Kotsatos (Brooklyn, N.Y.) – held on for the 25-13 win.

For the Bears vs. Yeshiva

• The team served up 19 aces, four shy of matching a record that dates back to 2014.

• Guarraci led the side with seven aces to go with 35 assists.

• Martinez totaled 13 kills, three digs, and as many aces.

• McMullan had nine digs and six aces.

• Kotsatos registered eight kills while Ortega logged six.

How it Happened vs. Old Westbury

The Panthers had all the momentum in the first set, leading 22-9 before winning 25-12. However, Martinez and Kotsatos combined for 12 of the Bears' 17 kills in the second to tie the match at one apiece.

Despite trailing by as few as three points at several moments in the third set and out-hitting the hosts 15 kills to nine, with Martinez posting seven kills while Frank Rivera (Astoria, N.Y.) had four, the Panthers emerged victorious with a 25-18 set win.

Trailing 6-2 in the fourth set, a trio of aces from Martinez and two kills helped the Bears take the lead, 8-6. The set remained back and forth, with the Bears leading 20-18 before Old Westbury regained the advantage with four straight points, making it 22-20. However, the Bears responded by scoring five of the next six points, with Belov's ace sealing the 25-23 win.

Kotsatos and Martinez led the Bears to victory in the decisive set, each contributing three kills. Kotsatos, along with Rivera, notched kills during a 4-1 stretch that secured the set 15-8 and the match 3-2.

For the Bears vs. Old Westbury

• Between Guarraci (56), Rivera (2), McMullan, Martinez, and Kotsatos (1 each), the Bears dished out 61 assists; eclipsing the previous team record of 56 against Pratt in March 2016.

• Guarraci's 56 assists surpassed the 50 dimes by Norrin Martinez '16 in the same 2016 match against the Cannoneers. He also brought up eight digs.

• Martinez's 26 kills topped an SJBK quartet with double-digit kills, while his 20 digs earned him his second collegiate double-double following his 28-kill, 10-dig performance in Friday's win over Bryn Athyn.

• Kotsatos finished with 13 kills while Rivera had a double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs.

• Belov rounded out the four-some with 10 kills.

• McMullan brought up 13 digs while Matthew Cottone (Oakdale, N.Y.) had nine.

Up Next

The Bears are at The Hill Center for the next two matches beginning on Monday, March 17 at 7 pm against Ramapo College.