Men's Volleyball Opens HVIAC Play Against Clinton Hill Rivals Pratt

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team (5-3) makes the short trip down Willoughby Ave. to face league newcomer and Clinton Hill rivals Pratt Institute to open Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play and looking to take an early lead atop the league standings.

Game Information

Opponent: Pratt Institute (3-1, 1-0 HVIAC)
Date/Time: Thursday, February 26th • 7:30 p.m.

Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Arena: Pratt ARC
Coverage: Live Stats

Quick Links

St. Joseph's (Bklyn): Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Pratt: Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Notes

Storylines

• The Bears enter as winners of four of their last five and sit above .500 by a program-best two games.
• Entering the game, St. Joseph's still remains atop Division III in aces per set with 3.56, with three Bears ranked in the top 10 individually led by the national leader Norrin Martinez with 1.30 aces per set.
• For his efforts in landing 21 aces last week, setting a new single-game record vs. Sarah Lawrence, also dishing out 43 assists, Martinez was named the HVIAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
• Despite missing one game due to injury, senior Raul Urshela continues to lead the Bears attack, with 3.33 kills per set, second-best in the league.
• The Bears come off a straight set victory over Medgar Evers on Tuesday, where three Bears tallied double-digit kills -- Urshela (13), Thomas Kennedy (career-high 12) and Taso Kostikas (11).
• After a 4-4 mark last season, the Cannoneers enter with a 3-1 record in their first year in the HVIAC, holding an early lead atop the league standings defeating Yeshiva, 3-1, in their season opener.
• The Cannoneers are led by last week's HVIAC Player of the Week David Cutler who puts down 3.43 kills per set at a league second-best .277 hitting percentage. 
• This is the first meeting in the all-time series between the two Clinton Hill rivals.