LANCASTER, Pa. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University trailed 20-8 in the second set before storming back to outlast Lancaster Bible College in extra points and that set the tone for a 3-0 sweep of the Chargers, 25-18, 33-31, 25-20, in non-conference men's volleyball action on February 26.
 
In the second meeting this season between the schools, NJCU (7-4) had two players post notable attack lines with two other stellar defensive efforts.
 
Sophomore middle hitter Sheldon Coure (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union) was simply lights out with a .600 attack percentage, 13 kills (13-1-20), three blocks and two aces. Senior outside Bill Le (Jersey City, NJ/Snyder) landed 11 kills and hit .450 (11-2-20) with seven digs and four aces.
 
Junior defensive specialist Raymel Castro (Newark, NJ/Barringer) delivered a career-high 15 digs and junior libero Nick Poh (Richmond, VA/Varina) dished 12 digs.
 
Lancaster lost its 10th straight match, falling to 1-13. NJCU held a 41-24 margin in kills and limited LBC to a .047 attack percentage.
 
Also standing out for NJCU, freshman setter Eric Maldonado (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) played all the way around, finishing with 33 assists and nine digs. Freshman right side Jalen Bryan (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) provided three blocks.
 
For the Chargers, senior setter Paul Fulbright (Elverson, PA) chipped in 20 assists and three blocks. Derek Bigley added 13 digs and three blocks and Nathan Diehl added 12 digs, six kills and two blocks. Caleb Strite tallied eight digs and four blocks.
 
NJCU never trailed in the opening set when it had 12 kills and claimed an early 10-4 lead. The Knights pushed the lead to 18-9 and held a comfortable margin the rest of the way.
 However, the second set was something to behold. NJCU planted 20 kills in the game but committed 15 attack errors. LBC had 10 kills but could not preserve a substantial lead in a period that eventually saw 10 ties and three lead changes. Six consecutive attack errors midway through the game allowed LBC to claim a commanding 20-8 lead before the Knights pulled off a remarkable 14-2 scoring outburst to even the game at 22-22. Five straight kills by four players cut the deficit to 20-14, a block by Coure and Bryan gave NJCU sideout after an LBC winner and Coure landed another kill after an error to give the Knights back the serve down 22-16. Le uncorked back-to-back aces, Poh and Coure put away attacks and Le fired another ace to make it a one-point game before Coure floored another shot to cap the run.
 

But after the furious comeback finally tied it, the fun was just beginning. For the first time since a marathon 37-35 game at The Sages Colleges on April 10, 2013, NJCU played a set into the 30s.
 
LBC held the lead at 23-22 and 24-23 but NJCU responded twice with winners by Coure and junior Jordon Casillas (Clifton, NJ/Passaic County Tech). LBC was up again, 26-25, before freshman middle hitter Andre Ghant (Newark, NJ/North 13th Street Tech) answered and Le kept the Knights alive with a winner down 27-26. NJCU held leads at 30-29 and 31-30 before finally closing out the game with kills by Le and Poh to clinch, 33-31.
 
The third set was far less dramatic as the Knights opened up a 16-8 differential in the middle of the period and maintained the advantage. LBC was able to draw within 22-20 before NJCU scored the final three points, including a kill by junior outside hitter Daque Wilcox (Camden, NJ/Camden County Tech) and an ace by Coure to seal the sweep.
 
QUOTES:
NJCU head coach Robert Cole (second season)
On the win: "When we played in system, we looked pretty good. We need to work harder to play defense. We're looking forward to Saturday."
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: NJCU leads, 8-2.
• NJCU previously defeated LBC on February 3 in Jersey City, 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-16).
• Nick Poh reached double figures in digs for the fifth time this season and ninth time in two seasons.
• Raymel Castro's previous digs high was eight, accomplished four times in 2014.
• Sheldon Coure reached double figures in kills for the first time this season (previous high was nine, at Vassar, Feb. 7) and 13th time in two seasons.
• Bill Le posted 10+ kills in a match for the first time this year and ninth time in his career.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU plays an important Skyline Conference tri-match on Saturday, February 28 when it faces nationally No. 1 ranked and unbeaten Kean University (14-0, 2-0 Skyline), the three-time defending league champions, at 11 a.m. before meeting Sage (4-7, 2-2 Skyline) for the second time this season. NJCU defeated Sage, 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21) on February 14 in Albany, N.Y. NJCU is 0-9 all-time against Kean. The series between NJCU and Sage is even, 4-4.