BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a five-set road win over Brooklyn College on Thursday evening, 3–2 (23–25, 22–25, 25–22, 25–20, 15–10). The triumph marked the first over Brooklyn College since their 2015 meeting and their first at the Bulldogs' West Quad Gymnasium. It also marked the Bears' first season-opening win since defeating Medgar Evers College in the 2016 curtain raiser at The Hill Center.

The Bears settled into the match quickly in the opening set, with Etvola Sango (Kinshasa, DR Congo) and Jeremias Martinez (Elmhurst, N.Y.) providing early kills. The side erased a small deficit with a six-point stretch to move in front midway through the frame, but Brooklyn answered late and closed the set on the final swing to take it 25–23. St. Joseph's briefly moved ahead late in the second stanza behind a Martinez kill and a point at the service line, but Brooklyn finished the set with a closing push to secure the 25–22 decision and a 2–0 match lead.

Despite 18 ties and eight lead the Bears responded in the third, using balanced scoring from Sango and Trey DeMeo (Barnegat, N.J.) while Jack Buscaglia (Hackensack, N.J.) kept the offense spread across the pins. St. Joseph's carried its lead to the finish line to take the set 25–22 and cut the match to 2–1. The fourth followed a similar script, with the Bears controlling the tempo and extending separation in the middle portion of the set, ultimately evening the match with a 25–20 win to force a deciding fifth.

In the decider, SJBK created breathing room early and continued to add points behind their attack and defense. The Bears closed out the set 15–10 on a kills from DeMeo and Mark Belov (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to complete the comeback.

Sango led St. Joseph's with a match-best 19 kills, 10 digs, and five total blocks, while Martinez finished with 14 kills, 13 digs, and a match-best three service aces. Buscaglia directed the offense with 42 assists and added two aces, while DeMeo contributed eight kills and Belov posted seven kills on .385 hitting. At the net, James McNeice (Brooklyn, N.Y.) recorded five block assists, and defensively Matthew Cottone (Oakdale, N.Y.) collected 13 digs.

The Bears make their Hill Center debut on Thursday, January 29 vs. City College, N.Y. at 7 p.m.