Bronxville, NY----In a season opening non-conference tri-match hosted by Sarah Lawrence, the Brooklyn College men's volleyball came home with split to start the 2020 campaign with a 1-1 record.  The Bulldogs swept the host, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-15), before falling to Colby-Sawyer College, 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 20-25, 15-25).  Brooklyn continues their non-conference slate on the road on Tuesday, Janaury 21, as they travel to Purchase College for a 7pm start.  

The Bulldogs came out on fire to start their day, jumping out to 9-1 lead in the first set against Sarah Lawrence.  Sarah Lawrence kept things close in the early points of the second set, before BC rallied for six straight scores including three aces served up by junior outside hitter, Jasper Diangco.  The home team made a late run in the second set to cut BC's lead to 24-22.  However, senior setter, Michael Valentin closed out the second set with a kill.  With the SLC leading 8-7 in the third set, Brooklyn rallied for eight straight points to take the lead for good and cruise to the win.

Brooklyn finished with 23 aces to the Gryphons' five for the match.  

Diangco finished with a match-high eight kills, seven aces, and foe digs.  Freshman middle hitter, Omar Rezika added seven kills. Valentin set for a match-high 25 assists.  

Sarah Lawrence's Felx Massey finished with seven kills and six digs.

Brooklyn kept their momentum going in the second match of the day against Colby Sawyer, using a late four-point rally to take a 21-13 lead in the first set.  Rezika closed out the set for BC with a service ace.  The Mustangs responded with a 3-0 lead to start the second set.  BC would come back to keep the set close, but couldn't get over the hump to ever take the lead.  The third set mirrored the second with Colby-Sawyer jumping out to a 4-0 advantage.  Brooklyn chipped away, but wasn't able to put together a rally to take the lead in the set.  Brooklyn looked in control to force a fifth and deciding set by jumping out to a 5-2 lead in the fourth.  However, the Mustangs used a five-score rally to take a 14-8 lead.  Colby-Sawyer closed out the match with three unanswered points.  

Sophomore setter, Brian Fok, led the way for BC in the second match with eight kills. Valentin finished with a match-high 29 kills totaling 54 on the day.  

Eric Miller put away a match-high ten kills while Giovani Dos Reis added nine kills for the Mustangs.  Orlando Plagata came up with a match-high 13 digs.