New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

BEVERLY, MA…Senior outside hitter KEVIN RODGERS (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) pounded out 36 kills to set a New Jersey City University record for the most in the rally-scoring era while tying a 13-year old school mark for the most kills in a match of any length, and his record-setting performance allowed the Gothic Knights to pick up what may prove to be an important victory later this year when playoff berths are decided, as NJCU outlasted Emmanuel College, 3-2 (30-27, 27-30, 30-25, 28-30, 15-12) in the second of four matches at the two-day, four-match Endicott College Invitational at The Post Center on February 14.

Rodgers' 36 kills mark his second career 30-kill accomplishment and are the most since rally scoring was implemented in the 2001 season. Meanwhile, the 36 kills ties Satsay Thongvichith—the only men's volleyball player in the NJCU Athletics Hall of Fame—for the most in the 20-year history of the program. Thongvichith posted 36 kills against Mount Saint Vincent on March 16, 1996. It was the sixth 30-kill match in school history.

Rodgers, who hit .347 with a line of 36-10-75, also defended 11 digs and four blocks. He posted his 27^th career double-double. He also moved into third place in school history with 1,111 kills, moving past both Jason Payman (1995-97; 1,075 kills) and Christopher Feliciano (1999-00, 02-03; 1,082 kills) on the all-time list.

Sophomore setter JUSTIN BEAUMONT (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) delivered 66 assists—one shy of the rally scoring program mark—and notched his seventh career double-double with 16 digs and five kills.

Freshmen middle blockers AUSTIN BRYANT (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville) hit .379 with 13 kills (13-2-29) and five blocks while sophomore outside hitter MARLEY PENA-GUZMAN (Atlanta, GA/Central Gwinnett (GA)) provided 14 kills and eight digs. Senior middle blocker SCOTT MODZELEWSKI (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) got the start and collected a .500 hitting percentage one six kills (6-1-10) and four blocks.

Sophomore libero CHRIS EDRA (Edison, NJ/JP Stevens) defended 20 digs for the Knights while senior opposite THIAGO SIQUEIRA (Newark, NJ/Science) had 15 digs.

Emmanuel was paced by junior outside hitter Michael Townsend (Beaverdam, VA/Patrick Henry) with 28 kills (28-8-64), a .312 percentage, and 10 digs for a double-double, while sophomore outside hitter Curtis Abram (San Luis Obispo, CA/San Luis Obispo) added a double-double of 18 kills (18-6-48, .250), 16 digs and four blocks. Sophomore setter Sean O'Connor (Hampstead, NH/St. John's Prep) had 45 assists while sophomore libero Jacob DeLuise (Wakefield, RI/South Kingstown) chipped in 19 digs.

NJCU won all the odd-numbered sets. In the first, NJCU trailed 13-10 before a 10-3 spurt put the Knights in front 20-17. The Saints tied it at 20-20 and 21-21 before NJCU eventually opened a four-point, 29-25 edge and took the game on a Rodgers kill, for a 30-27 decision.

The second set was tight throughout with eight ties, including 26-26. The Saints had a one-point, 28-27 lead, before back-to-back winners by Abram and Townsend capped the set, 30-27.

NJCU opened a 12-5 lead in the third set and never trailed. Back-to-back kills by Townsend cut it to three, 19-16, and Townsend and Abram had winners to again shave it to three, 23-20. Rodgers and Modzelewski had a combo block to force a third straight Emmanuel error for a 26-20 cushion, and NJCU won by five, 30-25.

The wild fourth set featured 17 ties and five lead changes. Late in the set, a kill by Bryant tied it at 26-26, and after an NJCU error, Rodgers made it 27-27 with a winner. But Townsend forced a fifth set with the final three kills by the Saints who won the frame, 30-28.

But in the fifth set, Rodgers took over, blasting seven kills without an error (7-0-12) for a .583 percentage and NJCU hit .440 as a team (12-1-25). The Knights never trailed in the set, opening a 7-2 lead on a shot by Rodgers. Emmanuel closed within 8-5 before Rodgers slammed kills for the ninth, 10^th and 11^th points and a winner by Modzelewski made it 12-7. The Saints did not quit, and three late kills by Townsend kept his team in the match, including 13-11, and 14-12, after Pena had landed a kill for match point. Rodgers sealed the victory with his 36^th kill on the second match point for a 15-12 victory.