Men's Volleyball Drops Season Opener to Eastern Nazarene

Men's Volleyball Drops Season Opener to Eastern Nazarene

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Despite a late rally in the third to try and extend the match, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team fell in straight sets, 3-0 (25-8, 25-20, 27-25), to Eastern Nazarene College in their 2020 season opener at The Hill Center on Friday evening.

How it Happened

The Bears (0-1) got off to a slow start as the visiting Lions (1-0) used an 8-1 run to race out to a 10-2 lead and never turned back hitting .455 in the opening frame.

The navy and gray found their footing in the second opening with the first four points of the frame with three straight rejections from rookie Kristopher Parbs-Slawson (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep). SJC led by as many as five in the set, 11-6, prompting a Lions timeout and the visitors later used a 9-2 run to pull ahead 18-16 and held on for a two-set lead.

The third stanza had both teams remain close throughout, neither gaining more than a four-point edge. After Eastern Nazarene led 20-16, Dejon St. Rose-Cuffy (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) helped provide a late spark with a pair of kills as the Bears knotted the set up at 21-all and four more ties ensued. SJC fought off two set points before the Delfy Soler ended any hopes of a fourth set putting away his match-best 20th kill.

For the Bears

  • St. Rose-Cuffy had six error-free kills at a .429 hitting percentage also stuffing four blocks (three solo).
  • Parbs-Slawson also had four blocks (three solo) in his collegiate debut while adding a pair of kills.
  • Rookie Ramizjon Khudoyorov (Brooklyn, N.Y./Edward R. Murrow) had a team-high-tying seven digs with an assisted block to lead the defense and added two kills.
  • Graduate Israel Bautista (Forest Hills, N.Y./Forest Hills) finished with eight assists and seven digs.

Next Up

The Bears continue a four-match homestand to open the season hosting borough foes Brooklyn College on Tuesday, January 28 at The Hill Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m. with live stats and video at SJCBears.com.