Bears Volleyball Closes Regular Season on Four-Game Streak Upending Medgar Evers in Straight Sets

BROOKLYN, N.Y.- The hard work of the St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team this season has begun to pay off, as they notched their fourth win in a row defeating Medgar Evars College in straight sets (25-22, 25-17, 25-23) on Monday night at the Cougars Cave.

The four-match winning streak for the Bears (7-13) is the longest in the team's history. The win, the Bears seventh of the year, sets a new program-high as they continue to find success away from home late in 2013.

The Bears were paced by a balanced attack from Raul Urshela (Orlando, FL/Colonial), Taso Kostikas (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) and Martin Torres (Ozone Park, NY/St. Francis Prep) who each contributed seven kills on the night. Sophomore Urshela and senior Torres added 14 and 12 digs, respectively, in the victory.  Freshman Kostikas, continued to demonstrate his all-around ability, also contributing four service aces and nine digs in addition to his seven kills.

The Cougars (0-23) received strong efforts from junior Shemroy Primo and senior Christopher Welsh who both tallied double digit digs to go along with eight and seven kills, respectively, in the loss.

The first and third sets of this match were tightly contested, with the Bears winning by a total of five points. Bears junior setter Iqbal Husain (West Palm Beach, FL/ Palm Beach Gardens), proved to be the difference, as he consistently dished out accurate sets, tallying 16 on the night, to go along with six digs and a service ace.

St. Joseph's is clicking at the right time as they begin post-season play at the Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference Tournament taking place this Thursday, April 11 at Yeshiva University. The Bears have finished as the No. 2 seed and will face No. 3 Sarah Lawrence College--the squads splitting the regular season 1-1--in the semifinals at 6 p.m.