Women’s Volleyball Rolls Past Medgar Evers in Straight Sets to Open 2017

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Hill Center was rocking Tuesday night as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's volleyball team defeated Medgar Evers College in three sets to seal their first win of the new season. Sophomore Brianna Marrazzo (East Elmhurst, N.Y./St. John's Prep) and freshman Tiffany Garcia-Lawson (Floral Park, N.Y./St. John's Prep) both led the Bears with seven kills apiece as the team hit .320 for the match.

The Basics

• Final Score: St. Joseph's 3, Medgar Evers 0
• Set Scores: 25-10, 25-10, 25-13
• Records: St. Joseph's (1-0), Medgar Evers (0-1)
• Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. — The Hill Center

How It Happened

• SJC got off to a hot start, rushing out to a 5-0 lead to start the match on the back of four aces from junior Nina DiCioccio (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep).
• The Bears communicated well throughout the first set, looking more in-sync than the Cougars—both playing their first match of the season—winning it 25-10.The second set held more of the same for SJC, as seven aces propelled them to a 16-4 lead. Offensively the Bears made only one attack error in the frame and combined for a .562 hitting percentage, led by Marrazzo's three kills in the set.
• The second set held more of the same for SJC, as seven aces propelled them to a 16-4 lead. Offensively the Bears made only one attack error in the frame and combined for a .562 hitting percentage, led by Marrazzo's three kills in the set. Medgar Evers came out with more energy in the third and propelled by a loud fan base, they kept it within two in the middle of the set, 14-12. But a 9-1 run sealed the straight-set victory for the Bears, as they wrapped up the third by a score of 25-13.
• Medgar Evers came out with more energy in the third and propelled by a loud fan base, they kept it within two in the middle of the set, 14-12. But a 9-1 run sealed the straight-set victory for the Bears, as they wrapped up the third by a score of 25-13.

For the Bears

• Sophomore Marrazzo slammed seven kills against no errors for a .875 hitting percentage. She also led the defense with six digs.
• Garcia-Lawson shined in her first collegiate match, sharing match-high honors with seven kills and her first career block, hitting an effective .375.
• Sophomore Valentina Urgo (Astoria, N.Y./St. John's Prep) had a match-high 10 points with six aces and four kills.
• Sophomore Paige Csikortos (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) directed the offense to a .320 hitting night, dishing out 21 assists.
• Freshman Dana Roussos (Astoria, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) also had a strong rookie debut, leading the back line with seven aces.

The Bear Facts

• This is the first season-opening win for women's volleyball since 2014, when they took down Cooper Union, 3-0.
• The win is the Bears 10th straight over their Brooklyn rivals, dating back to 2010.

Next Up for the Bears

• Another home matchup for St. Joseph's, as they host the Pioneers of William Paterson University at the Hill Center on Thursday (Sep. 7) at 7 p.m. Live stats and video are available on SJCBears.com.