Urshela and Husain Receive HVIAC All-Conference Recognition

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – After leading the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team to a school-record eight wins and its first ever appearance in the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Tournament championship game, junior Raul Urshela (Orlando, Fla./Colonial) and senior Iqbal Husain (West Palm Beach, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens) were named to the HVIAC All-Conference in ceremonies concluding the tournament on Thursday evening.

Urshela, a four-time Player of the Week, led the Bears in most offensive categories, including a school-record 236 kills (No. 2 in HVIAC) on the season and a HVIAC-leading 3.42 kills per set. The junior also contributed 108 digs and paced St. Joseph's with 42 blocks. The outside hitter played in all 20 matches and finished with three double-doubles, recording double-digit kills in 13 matches and 20 or more kills three times. Urshela led the Bears in kills in 19 of the team's 20 matches on the season, including setting the school record for most kills in a three-set affair with 17 in their season opener at Cooper Union.

The now two-time All-Conference selection made history against Sarah Lawrence College on March 9th, setting a new school record in kills for a career with his 448th against the Gryphons. Urshela followed that up by surpassing the 500-kill plateau with 12 kills at John Jay on March 24th. The junior contributed his best effort of the season in St. Joseph's regular season finale at Webb on April 8th, slamming down a season-high-tying 23 kills and brought up 13 digs in the Bears five-set win.

Husain earns All-Conference honors for the second consecutive year and was the igniter of the Bears offense, leading the team with 397 assists and 5.75 assists per set (No. 2 in HVIAC) on the year. The setter appeared in all 20 matches, finishing second on the team with 115 digs, while contributing 11 blocks and five kills.

The senior concluded the season with double-digit assists in 17 matches, including three matches with 30 or more. Husain had two double-doubles on the year and slammed down a kill on five separate occasions. The setter put his named in the St. Joseph's record book with his 1,000th career assist versus Webb on March 19th, becoming first Bear to reach milestone. Husain concluded his career with an impressive 1178 assists and holds the school record for most matches played in at 76.

Full HVIAC All-Conference Team Release