Terriers, Sharks NCAA Tournament bound

SFC tennis and LIU golf squads to compete for national titles

May 3, 2023 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Assil Boussayri and the SFC Brooklyn men's tennis team will take on Columbia Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

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The first Northeast Conference men’s tennis title in St. Francis Brooklyn history has resulted in the Terriers’ initial invite to the NCAA Tournament.

On Monday, head coach Chad Davis’ squad found out it would be competing against 13th-seeded Columbia Friday in the opening round of the national championship tournament at the Billie Jeane King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

“We are Brooklyn tough!” Davis exclaimed after SFC topped Fairleigh Dickinson in the NEC Tournament final last month, cementing his legacy in the final year of athletics at the Franciscan school.

Davis, in his 19th year at the helm here, was recognized as the conference’s Coach of the Year.

But his work isn’t done.

The Terriers (10-11, 6-1 NEC) will take the court against the Lions (19-3) on Friday at high noon while St. John’s and Stanford compete in the other bracket of the region.

Winners of nine of their last 10 matches, the Terriers will boast a lineup of newly minted NEC selections.

Freshman sensation Leon Harder was named NEC Rookie of the Year, and Jan Godfrey Seno was tabbed First Team All-Conference for singles after battling through injuries to begin the campaign.

Harder, an NEC Rookie of the Month and Week this season, went a perfect 7-0 in conference matches before pulling out a three-set win in the NEC Final.

Seno went 5-2 in league action and clinched the title for the Terriers by topping NEC Player of the Year Justas Trainauskas of FDU in the finals.

Assil Boussayri and Habib Stambouli nailed down First Team All-NEC in doubles and added Second Team honors in singles play. The duo went 6-1 against conference foes and nailed down the doubles point in the championship match.

In No. 2 singles, Boussayri posted an 8-5 record and Stambouli went 8-6 at No. 3 singles.

The winner of Friday’s tournament opener will face Stanford or St. John’s at noon on Saturday.

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The LIU men’s golf team, fresh off its second NEC championship in three years, is waiting to see whom it will meet in this month’s NCAA Tournament. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

The Long Island University men’s golf team is still waiting to find out its first-round NCAA Tournament opponent after wrapping up its second NEC Championship in three years last week at the Jones Course at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Sharks captured the crown by beating Howard University by five strokes in last Wednesday’s final.

Marcelo Mexsen won the NEC Tournament’s individual title, shooting 5-under 67 for the final round. He had a three-round score of 212.

LIU led through all three rounds of the championship, but won’t head to the NCAA Regionals for a couple of weeks.

The regionals will take place from May 15-17 at one of six locations.

The Sharks will be headed to Auburn, Alabama, Salem, South Carolina, East Lansing, Michigan, Norman, Oklahoma or Morgan Hill, California.

The NCAA Tournament assignments were scheduled to be revealed Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m.

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Joseph Agrest was named the new head women’s volleyball coach at Brooklyn College. Photo courtesy of BC Athletics

Over at Brooklyn College, Joseph Agrest was named the new women’s volleyball coach, inheriting a team that won the CUNYAC title in 2021 and has appeared in the last three conference championship matches.

“Joe showed us right away not only his great knowledge of volleyball and his understanding of recruiting qualified student-athletes, but his overall passion for volleyball,” Brooklyn College Director of Athletics Erik Smiles noted.

“He has great knowledge of New York City area volleyball and has had the experience of being a head coach at both the Division III and Division I levels as well as at the two-year level, which we felt has prepared him to really keep our program playing at a championship level.”

A 35-year veteran of the circuit, Agrest is Sport and Fitness Director at the JCH in Brooklyn. Since 2001, he has also been in the positions of Head Volleyball Coach, Sports Program Coordinator and Maccabi Delegation Head, according to the BC Athletics website.

Agrest was head women’s volleyball coach at Yeshiva University from 2014-16, and held the same post at Division I St. Peter’s University from 2008-11.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to bring my experience and knowledge of volleyball to Brooklyn College,” said Agrest.

“It’s going to be great returning to the college ranks with a program that experienced success the past few seasons and I look forward to building on that foundation.”