BOX SCORE: NJCU vs. Stevenson
BOX SCORE: Stevenson vs. York
BOX SCORE: NJCU vs. York
JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...New Jersey City University's men's volleyball team continued its push towards the post-season on Sunday, improving to 8-3 in the month of March with a pair of 3-0 home victories as the Gothic Knights defeated Stevenson University, 30-27, 30-27, 30-24 and downed York College (NY), 30-13, 30-11, 30-24, in a non-conference tri-match on “Coach Charlie Brown Court” at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. Stevenson defeated York, 3-0 (30-17, 30-13, 30-17) in a neutral court match in the middle of the three contests.
With the pair of wins, NJCU improved to 16-8 overall and 9-3 at home. Stevenson, which won three of four meetings between NJCU and the Mustangs in 2009, went 1-1 on the day and is 11-13 overall. York, 0-2 in the tri-match, dropped to 13-18.
*****MATCH 1: NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 3, STEVENSON UNIVERSITY 0 (30-27, 30-27, 30-24)*****
After playing four times last year, NJCU and Stevenson were scheduled to play twice this season, but each time winter storms cancelled the respective matches on February 6 and 13. On Sunday, NJCU and Stevenson finally took the court, and the Knights prevailed in three sets, behind the play of freshman outside hitter JOSE MATTA (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Union Hill) and sophomore opposite AUSTIN BRYANT (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville). NJCU regained a 7-6 lead against Stevenson in the all-time series.
Matta posted his second career double-double with a match-best 18 kills (18-10-36, .222), 10 digs and two blocks. Bryant chipped in 12 kills (12-5-32, .219) 14 digs and three aces for his second double-double in as many matches and the third of his career. Junior libero CHRIS EDRA (Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens) posted 14 digs.
Also for NJCU, junior setter JORGE RODRIGUEZ (Havana, Cuba/Memorial) distributed 23 assists and eight digs, with a .442 setting percentage while senior setter FELIPE SIQUEIRA (Newark, NJ/Science) added 12 digs. . Freshman middle blocker DAVIS OBI (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) contributed six blocks, including two solo. Freshman outside hitter MICHAL KUCZA (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) returned to the lineup and chipped in eight digs and six kills.
For the Mustangs, sophomore setter Dean Massimini (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) had 23 assists and eight digs. Sophomore outside hitter Jason Matkowski (Warminster, PA/William Tennent) had a team-best 12 kills, but committed 13 attack errors. Senior opposite David Lloyd (Germantown, MD/Seneca Valley) had five blocks and freshman Kyle Diller (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg) added 13 digs.
The first two sets were very competitive. In the opening frame there were four ties and three lead changes. NJCU led 24-22 before Matkowski landed a kill then followed with an ace for 24-24. Matta and Diller traded kills before Stevenson went in front 27-25, on a block and kill by freshman middle hitter Robert Kryger (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa). But NJCU responded by uncorking the final five points of the set. A kill by Matta made it 27-26 before Matta and freshman middle blocker CASEY BLAKE (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) combined for a set-tying stuff. Blake dropped a kill for a 28-27 lead, Bryant made it 29-27 with a winner and Matta slammed a shot to the floor for a 30-27 decision.
In the second set, there were 10 ties and four lead changes as NJCU had 13 kills but committed 14 attack errors. Stevenson had 10 kills but nine errors. Stevenson opened a 21-17 lead in the middle of the set before NJCU tied it at 22-22 on a kill by Matta. There would be three more ties at 23, 24 and 25 before the Mustangs claimed a 26-25 edge on an NJCU attack error. Kucza pounded two kills sandwiched around a Stevenson error as the Knights built a 28-26 margin. Blake aced the Mustangs for 29-26 before Kucza sealed the win with another kill.
NJCU led through much of the third set, hitting .314 as a team with 17 kills. The Mustangs had 15 kills in the frame. SU cut NJCU's lead to 20-18 before Siqueira surprised the Mustangs with a kill from the setting position for 21-18. A Mustang error and a Blake ace made it 23-18. The lead increased to 28-21 on kills by Bryant and Matta before Kucza's over ball landed on the opposing court for a kill on match point.
*****MATCH 2: STEVENSON UNIVERSITY 3, YORK COLLEGE (NY) 0 (30-17, 30-13, 30-17)*****
Stevenson hit .261 as a team in the 3-0 victory over York as Diller had 28 assists and a .452 setting percentage, adding seven digs and five aces. Matkowski hit .533 with 10 kills (10-2-15), two blocks and two aces. Sophomore middle blocker Josh Forbes (Erie, PA/McDowell) had six kills, five blocks (two solo) and three aces. Stevenson landed 17 service aces as a team.
York received 11 assists from sophomore setter Aruni Piantini (San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic/John F. Kennedy). Sophomore middle hitter Brian Francisco (Bronx, NY/John F. Kennedy) had five kills and five blocks. York hit -.118 (19 kills, 29 errors, 85 attempts).
*****MATCH 3: NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 3, YORK COLLEGE 0 (30-13, 30-11, 30-24)*****
NJCU cruised to its 12th consecutive win over York since 1996 in the final contest of the tri-match, improving to 15-5 all-time against the Cardinals. NJCU hit a collective .358 (44-10-95) as a team as all 13 players on the roster saw considerable time.
In two sets, Matta led the way, slamming 12 kills with no errors in 18 swings for a .667 percentage, adding five digs and two blocks. Sophomore outside hitter KENNY LISK (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) hit .316 with eight kills (8-2-19) in two sets. Bryant was errorless in six swings over two games., landing five kills for a .833 accuracy rate, while chipping in six digs and two blocks. Obi had five kills and four blocks in three sets. Blake, in two sets, hit .667 with six kills and no errors (nine attempts), adding two blocks.
Also for NJCU, Edra defended nine digs to eclipse the 750 mark for his career. In three seasons—and just two at the defensive intensive libero position—he now has 758 career digs. Rodriguez dished 19 assists while Siqueira gave out 11 on 24 attempts for a .458 percentage.
NJCU hit a staggering .645 as a team in the opening set with 21 kills and one error on 31 attempts. The starting lineup also hit .357 in the second set.
York was led by sophomore outside hitter Bryan Williams (Brooklyn, NY/William Grady), who hit .300 with nine kills (9-3-20) and eight digs while Piantini had nine digs. Freshman Arturo Cabrera, Jr. (Rio, Brazil/John F. Kennedy) tallied 18 assists in defeat.
NJCU will return to action in its final scheduled match of the regular season on Monday, March 22 at 7 p.m. when it hosts the College of Mount Saint Vincent in a North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Metro Division contest. It will be senior night as NJCU honors three-year co-captain FELIPE SIQUEIRA.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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STEVENSON
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Score
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3
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0
|
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Attack Percentage
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.133 (48-30-135)
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.065 (36-27-138)
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Kills
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48
|
36
|
|
Assists
|
44
|
31
|
|
Service Aces
|
5
|
4
|
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Digs
|
64
|
46
|
|
Total Blocks
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8.0
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9.0
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Points
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61.0
|
49.0
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Team Stat Comparison
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|
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STEVENSON
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YORK
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Score
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3
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0
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Attack Percentage
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.261 (33-15-69)
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-.118 (19-29-85)
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|
Kills
|
33
|
19
|
|
Assists
|
30
|
18
|
|
Service Aces
|
17
|
3
|
|
Digs
|
24
|
19
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Total Blocks
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8.0
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6.0
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Points
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58.0
|
28.0
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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YORK
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Score
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3
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0
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Attack Percentage
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.358 (44-10-95)
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.080 (26-19-88)
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Kills
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44
|
26
|
|
Assists
|
35
|
25
|
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Service Aces
|
4
|
4
|
|
Digs
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39
|
38
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Total Blocks
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8.0
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4.0
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Points
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56.0
|
34.0
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