BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team picked up its second win of the 2026 season and their first at home on Thursday night, outlasting the City College of New York in five sets at The Hill Center, 3–2 (14–25, 25–20, 25–20, 17–25, 16–14).

The Beavers took control of the opening set by creating separation midway through the frame, but St. Joseph's stayed competitive early behind continued production from Jeremias Martinez (Elmhurst, N.Y.), who remained the Bears' primary point-scoring option on first-ball swings. Jack Buscaglia (Hackensack, N.J.) continued to spread the offense despite CCNY's serving pressure, while Matthew Cottone (Oakdale, N.Y.) handled an increased defensive workload as rallies extended late in the set but the visitors held on to claim the opener.

After CCNY held a slim edge early in the second, St. Joseph's flipped momentum during a five-point stretch that featured consistent scoring from Etvola Sango (Kinshasa, DR Congo) and steady distribution from Buscaglia. Cottone stabilized the back row during extended rallies, helping the Bears protect the lead and even the match.

SJBK carried that rhythm into the third. The set remained tight through the early stages before the Bears again created separation midway through, as Martinez continued to terminate in transition and Trey DeMeo (Barnegat, N.J.) added finishes of his own to stretch the advantage. as the Bears took a 2–1 match lead. The Beavers answered in the fourth after the Bears opened with an early burst. The visitors applied sustained pressure from the service line and forced longer rallies, pushing the match to a deciding set despite continued offensive activity from Martinez and Sango. 

The fifth set came down to the closing points. CCNY reached match point first, but St. Joseph's responded by scoring the final five points of the match. Martinez played a central role in the comeback, accounting for multiple late kills including at 15-14 to seal the win.

Martinez led all players with 27 kills, hitting .327, while adding six service aces and nine digs. Sango followed with 12 kills, and DeMeo contributed nine kills. Buscaglia directed the offense with 44 assists, and Cottone anchored the back row with 13 digs. As a team, the Bears finished with 52 kills, 10 service aces, and three total blocks. The win also marks the first for first-year head coach Jay Saran.

The Bears host Medgar Evers College on Tuesday, February 3 at 7 pm.