Smalley Posts Career-High Double-Double in Men’s Volleyball Triumph Over Medgar Evers

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Junior Alec Smalley (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) slammed a career-high-tying 14 kills and brought up a career-best 21 digs to lead the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's volleyball to a 3-1 triumph over Brooklyn rivals Medgar Evers College on Thursday evening.

The victory snaps a five-game skid for the Bears, who sweep the season series with the win. Junior Thomas Ambrosino (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp) fell one kill shy of a double-double finishing with nine kills and 13 digs.

The Basics

• Final Score: St. Joseph's def. Medgar Evers, 3-0
• Set Scores: 25-18, 21-25, 25-16, 25-15
• Records: St. Joseph's (2-15), Medgar Evers (0-16)
• Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Arena: The Hill Center

How It Happened

• Three early aces from Mark Antoun helped power a 6-0 run in the opening set and the Bears extended to a 10-2 lead and along with four kills from Thomas Ambrosino maintained their separation for the remainder of the set.
• Four SJC miscues spotted the Cougars a 4-0 lead to start the second set and the Bears never fully closed the gap. A Smalley ace pulled the Bears within one, 21-20, before the visitors leveled the match at one set apiece.
• Smalley exploded for seven kills in the third set without an error—hitting .583 in the frame—and also sprawled around the court for 11 digs. SJC used a 9-1 spurt midway through the set to create separation and never trailed.
• The teams traded the lead briefly in the fourth and Medgar led 8-5 before seven straight points for the Bears, powered by three kills from Andre Williams, put them on top for good.

For the Bears

• Smalley led all attackers with 14 kills, matching a career best set at Pratt last season, and finished with an efficient .423 hitting night. In addition to smashing his previous career best in digs (13) with 21, he also matched a career high with three aces.
• Ambrosino also logged career highs in kills (9) and aces (4).
• Antoun dished out a career-high 23 assists and fell one ace shy of a double-double with nine aces, also a career best.
• Andre Williams and McNeilsen Saint-Jean and four and three kills, respectively, also career-highs.
• Angelo Goutzinopolous chipped in two kills and a pair of blocks.

Next Up for the Bears

• The Bears have a week off before returning to the court at City College of New York on Thursday, March 17 in their final tune-up before opening Skyline Conference play next weekend. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. in Manhattan.