JAMAICA, NY - The Medgar Evers College men's volleyball team played CUNY Athletic Conference matches against Hunter College and host institution York College on Monday, February 17.

The Cougars (6-1, 1-1 CUNYAC) fell to the Hawks (9-4, 3-0) in three sets (25-11, 25-19, 25-13) before defeating the host Cardinals (1-6, 0-2) in straight sets (25-18, 25-13, 25-14).

The first set was rough for Medgar, as the team fell behind 12-3 and then 17-6, before ultimately falling 25-11, their worst set of the season so far by a significant margin.

The second set started out in similar fashion, with Hunter jumping out to an 8-3 lead. The Cougars regrouped and trailed just 10-7. Hunter and Medgar traded points for much of the set, and after a late 3-0 they brought the score to 23-18. However, Hunter managed to close out the set and ran away with the third set and the match.

Enmanuel Jaquez was the only Medgar player with a positive hitting percentage, smacking eight kills and totaling two blocks, while Alex Bridgelall dished out 13 assists and added five digs.

In the next match against York, the tables turned as Medgar jumped out to a 19-7 lead. The black-and-gold took their foot off the gas a bit as the Cardinals fought back to make the score 24-18, but Medgar ultimately claimed their 1-0 advantage.

The second set started even, with York holding a 5-4 lead. However, Medgar won the next four points, and did not let up this time as they cruised to a 25-13 second-set victory. The Cougars carried their momentum into the third set, building a 9-2 lead which was never seriously threatened throughout the third and final set.

Jaquez recorded team-best totals of 12 kills, .500 hitting percentage, and one block, also totaling nine digs. Bridgelall added 31 assists and five digs, while Sebastiann Perez added 10 kills on a .368 hitting percentage, in addition to seven digs and two aces.

Austin Romeo (6 kills, 10 digs, three assists, two aces, one block) and Jovan Scott (five kills, three aces) also enjoyed productive matches for the Cougars.

The team returns to action after a break of several weeks on Tuesday, March 3, when the team hosts Baruch College at the Cougars Cave for another CUNYAC contest.