Trio with Double-Doubles Lifts Women’s Volleyball Past SUNY Maritime in Skyline Opener

THROGGS NECK, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) women's volleyball team opened their Skyline Conference slate with a 3-2 win over SUNY Maritime College (25-15, 20-25, 19-25, 26-24, 15-7) on Monday night at the Riesenberg Gymnasium.

How it Happened

A 10-2 spurt for the Bears, following an early 3-1 edge by the Privateers, gave the navy and gray an 11-4 lead to begin the opening set. Mireia Alba (Barcelona, Spain) had three kills in the span. Martina Urgo (Astoria, N.Y./St. John's Prep) and Autumn Poppett (San Diego, Calif./Mission Hills) joined Alba with three kills in the set en route to a 25-15 set win.

The Bears' 4-1 lead to begin the second set evaporated when errors contributed to a 7-1 Maritime run. St. Joseph's came within a point on a couple of occasions (10-9, 12-11) but the Privateers held on to win the set by five, 25-20.

The hosts opened the third stanza with a commanding 8-1 lead and, despite three ties, they did not surrender the lead; claiming the set 25-19. Urgo and Rachel Guerra (Kent Island, Md./Kent Island) combined for four of the Bears' seven kills in the period.

A back-and-forth fourth set saw four ties and three lead changes. The Privateers ate at the Bears 18-17 lead, eventually tying the set at 24 apiece. Following an SJBK timeout, Maritime errors resulted in the Bears' set win and a 2-2 stalemate.

The Bears maintained their momentum in the decisive set. Urgo took charge of the Bears' attack, securing three kills including the match-clincher, as the navy and gray started their league campaign with a 3-2 win.

For the Bears

• Urgo, Poppett, and Rachel Meltsin (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) all had 13 digs en route to their first double-doubles of the season.

• Meltsin handed out a match-best 33 assists.

• Urgo slammed a team-leading 12 kills while Poppett recorded 10.

• Poppett also served up four aces.

• Alba brought up a match-high 21 digs. She also had six kills and an assist.

• Guerra finished with eight kills on the night to go with 

• Jillian McGinty (Glendale, N.Y./Queens Metropolitan) had four kills and three service aces.

Up Next

The Bears return to The Hill Center on Thursday, September 28 at 7 p.m. when they host the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Live stats and video will be available on sjbkathletics.com/live.