MIDDLESEX COLLEGE MENS VOLLEYBALL TOPS NASSAU, PASSAIC IN EXCITING TRI-MATCH

Middlesex College Men's Volleyball has started their 2024 season right where last year left off as the Colts are off to a 4-2 start, including wins in their last three matches.

The defending Region 19 runners-up swept Monroe College (Bronx) on Friday and followed that up with wins over Nassau CC and Passaic CC over the weekend.

Against Monroe, Middlesex won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-21 then sealed the sweep with a thrilling 28-26 win.

Justin Zapata (Freshman/North Brunswick, NJ) led Middlesex with six kills and Bryan Agurto (Freshman/Perth Amboy, NJ) paced the Colts with 17 assists. Cristofer Agurto (Sophomore/Perth Amboy, NJ) led Middlesex with 10 digs against Monroe.

After the Monroe sweep, Middlesex participated in a tri-match at Nassau CC and came away with wins in both of their matches.

The Colts faced Nassau at first and rallied after dropping the first set 25-18. Middlesex flipped the score and won the second set by an identical 25-18 score and then won a close 25-21 pivotal third set.

The potentially decisive fourth set was tied at 24, but Nassau notched the final two points and took the set 26-24 to setup a tiebreaking fifth. Middlesex controlled the set from the start and cruised to a 15-6 victory to take the match.

Zapata led Middlesex again with 11 kills while David Cabrera (Sophomore/Iselin, NJ) had 14 assists.

Against Passaic, Middlesex once again went the distance, this time pulling out a much closer fifth set.

Passaic was in the driver's seat after winning the first two sets 25-23 and 25-20, but the Colts blistered their way to a 25-10 third set win. They carried that momentum onto the fourth set, pulling out a 25-21 win to set up a decisive fifth set.

Middlesex topped Passaic 15-12 in the fifth set to nail down the victory.

Jeremy Lugo (Freshman/Carteret, NJ) led Middlesex with 18 kills against Passaic while Cristofer Agurto had 17 digs. Deivy Perez (Sophomore/Perth Amboy, NJ) added 14 digs and six kills, including three service aces in the win.

Middlesex is back in action Monday when they travel to Harcum. The match is scheduled to start at 6:30PM.