Men’s Volleyball Crowned 2018 Skyline Conference Champions

Men’s Volleyball Crowned 2018 Skyline Conference Champions

Patchogue, NY| In only the team's second-ever season, the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) men's volleyball team was crowned 2018 Skyline Conference champion with a 3-0 sweep of the College of Mount St. Vincent inside the Danzi Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles, now 23-8 on the season, earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship, which begins next Friday, April 20.

Sophomore Paul Curaro was named the tournament's most outstanding player following a final performance that included 11 kills, 10 digs and three service aces.

Sophomore Will Flohr put down a game-best 13 kills and sophomore Kyle Biggers hit .583 and was credited with seven kills.

Senior Tyler Jones dished out a game-high 36 assists and junior libero Danny McNamara recorded nine digs.

After cruising to a 25-14 win in the first set, the Golden Eagles were met with a tougher Mount St. Vincent opponent in the second frame—one that maintained pace with the hosts for much of the period.

But after Scott Sawyer tied the set at 19, SJC rattled off six-straight points to clinch a 25-19 victory and go up 2-0 in the match.

Similar to the second set, the sides played to an 18-18 tie, but again it was St. Joseph's that grabbed seven of the frame's final nine points to clinch the sweep and the program's first-ever conference title.

SJC, which hit 29% in the contest, generated 43 kills to the Dolphins' 28. The hosts also held advantages in total service aces (5-1) and total digs (36-35).

The Golden Eagles learn their NCAA Championship fate on Monday, April 16 when the NCAA unveils seedings and match-ups for the tournament.