Trio of Double-Doubles Leads Bears Volleyball to 3-1 Triumph Over Webb

GLEN COVE, N.Y. – Three Bears recorded double-doubles as the St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) men's volleyball team snapped a five-game losing streak defeating the Webb Institute in four sets (26-24,23-25,25-15,25-12) in a their Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference (HVMAC) regular season finale on Thursday night.

The Bears (4-13, 3-3) earned their first road win of the season and were victorious against the Webbies (0-7, 0-4) finishing league play at .500 for the first time in school history.

Raul Urshela (Orlando,Fl/Colonial) posted an impressive line of 15 kills, 10 digs, three aces and two blocks and also added an assist on the night in recording his first double-double. Accompanying Urshela with a double-double effort was senior  Martin Torres (Ozone Park, NY/St. Francis Prep) who had a big night of his own, filling it up with 12 kills, a match-high 16 digs, two aces and two blocks. This was the second time this season that both hitters accumulated double digit kills against Webb.

Rounding out the three Bears with double-doubles Taso Kostikas (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) who contributed 10 kills and 10 digs in the win. Setting the table for the Bears was junior Iqbal Husain (West Palm Beach,FL/Palm Beach Gardens), handing out a career-high 33 assists while adding 10 digs and three service aces of his own. 

Webb was paced by Cody Owen who had nine kills and 20 digs. Kierstin Del Valle directed the offense with 16 assists.

The night got off to an exciting start with a highly contested first set.  After the Webbies jumped out to a 14-4 lead the Bears came storming back led by big hitting from Urshela. Two service aces in a row from Kostikas, gave the Bears their first lead at 24-23, before stellar defense awarded St. Joseph's the win 26-24.

In game two, the Webbies were inspired by a large show of support from their home crowd. Both teams traded points throughout the set which saw the scored tied eight times, before Webb finally broke a 23 all tie with back to back points, winning 25-23.

Fending off a feisty Webb effort, the Bears jumped out to an 11-2 game three lead.  Urhsela, undaunted by the heckling crowd, served nine straight points for St. Joseph's.  Despite several Webbie-comeback attempts the Bears held on to claim game three, 25-15.

The fourth set of the match proved to be the last, as the Bears once again started hot with a 10-2 lead. Consistent play from Torres and Urshela allowed the Bears to roll to a 25-12 win and complete the four-game victory.

As the 2013 season winds down the Bears head south to our nation's capital for a two-game tilt against Washington Adventist and Gallaudet. The two matches are scheduled for Sunday, April 7, with first serve expected at 2:00 PM.