NEW YORK, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team earned a 3–1 victory over Yeshiva University on Thursday night at the Max Stern Athletic Center, posting set scores of 25–18, 25–11, 28–30, 25–18 in their Skyline Conference opener.
The Bears jumped on the Maccabees early in the first set, building an early lead as the Bears attacked efficiently from the pins and controlled serve-receive. A string of well-executed swings in transition allowed SJBK to pull ahead by several points midway through the frame, and they maintained that separation to close out the set 25–18. The trio of Jeremias Martinez (Elmhurst, N.Y.), Trey DeMeo (Barnegat, N.J.), and Ian McIntosh (Flushing, N.Y.) combined for 10 kills in the frame.
St. Joseph's extended its advantage in the second set. Middle blockers Mark Belov (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and James McNeice (Brooklyn, N.Y.), along with setter Jack Buscaglia (Hackensack, N.J.) joined in on the Bears' attack while Martinez had four of the team's seven aces. The Bears won 25–11 to take a two-set lead.
Yeshiva responded in the third, hitting its stride offensively and countering several Bears' swings with pinpoint placement. The frame remained tight through the mid-20s, highlighted by rallies in which both squads traded points. With both teams refusing to give in, the set extended past 25 and eventually saw the Bears hold four match points before the hosts claimed the set 30–28 in the night's most competitive stretch.
In the fourth, SJBK regained control, holding the lead in the set's entirety. Martinez spearheaded the attack with five kills in the stanza while Belov had three and DeMeo, McNeice, and Corey Zaccagna (Barnegat, N.J.) all contributing to the Bears' 25-18 set win to win the match 3-1.
The Bears finished with 44 team kills to Yeshiva's 23 and registered 17 service aces compared to six for the hosts. Martinez logged 23 kills and five aces while DeMeo followed with eight and three, respectively. Martinez also broiught up 15 digs followed by 12 from DeMeo and 10 by Matthew Cottone (Oakdale, N.Y.). Buscaglia distributed 35 assists.
The Bears host Purchase College on Saturday, February 28 at 1 pm.
