New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

NEW PALTZ, NY…SUNY New Paltz, ranked #14 nationally in the latest Bison/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll, held New Jersey City University to its lowest team hitting percentage in nearly three years and swept the Gothic Knights, 3-0 (30-26, 30-22, 30-24), in a men's volleyball match on Thursday night at The Hawk Center.

While both schools are North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Metro Division rivals, it was a non-divisional contest and the second of three meetings between the schools this year.

SUNY New Paltz (13-8, 3-0 NECVA Metro) won for the third time in four outings, while NJCU fell to 12-8 (3-0 NECVA Metro). The Hawks lead the all-time series, 13-2 and have won the last eight meetings.

NJCU was limited to a -.032 hitting percentage on 30 kills, 34 errors and 126 attempts, marking the first time the Knights have been held to a negative attack rate in a span of 88 matches, dating to March 20, 2006, when Stevens Institute of Technology forced the club into a line of 18-22-85 and a -.047 rate.

In defeat, senior outside hitter KEVIN RODGERS (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) tallied 18 digs while senior opposite THIAGO SIQUEIRA (Newark, NJ/Science) finished with 11 digs. Sophomore setter JUSTIN BEAUMONT (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) registered 21 assists, eight digs and three blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter MARLEY PENA-GUZMAN (Atlanta, GA/Central Gwinnett (GA)) netted seven kills. Freshman middle blocker DANNY KOCHANSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) posted three blocks.

New Paltz, which hit .167 overall (41-19-132) had two players reach double figures in kills, led by senior outside hitter Ryan Huberty (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) with 14 kills and nine digs and senior middle hitter Jake Moore (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson), who had ten kills, 15 digs and three blocks, hitting .276. 

Sophomore setter Andrew Cassius (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) dished out 17 assists and freshman setter Frank Ciccone (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach) added 14 assists.

In set one, both teams played to a 9-9 tie before the Hawks rattled off three of the next four points.  After the Knights cut the lead to one at 14-13, the Hawks would tally six of the next seven points to take a 20-14 lead. NJCU would battle back to 28-26, but the Hawks would hold of the comeback and win 30-26.

A competitive second set saw New Paltz maintain a slim, 13-12 lead before the Hawks scored nine of the next 11 points to take command, 22-14.  The Knights would not get any closer than seven points the remainder of the set, falling 30-22.

In set three, New Paltz led 9-7, before stretching that margin to 10, at 23-13. The Knights scored six of the next seven points to come within five at 24-19, before the hosts pushed the lead to 27-19, and took the game, 30-24.

NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, March 4 in a non-conference home contest against Lancaster Bible College at 7 p.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.