STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Freshman middle hitter Christian Ramirez (West New York, N.J./Memorial) blasted a career high 15 kills and hit at a .571 percentage to pace the New Jersey City University men's volleyball program to its first sweep of the season as the Gothic Knights blanked the College of Staten Island, 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-15) in non-conference action on February 16.
 
Ramirez had a line of 15 kills and only three errors in 21 swings and added two solo blocks as NJCU (2-5) won its second consecutive outing, dropping Staten Island to 0-2. NJCU produced 43 total kills. The Dolphins (.012) were limited to just 22 kills.
 
Freshman right side/middle hitter Julian Moreira (Miami, Fla./Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) went into double figures in kills again, tallying 13 (13-10-32), adding three service aces and two blocks. Freshman middle hitter/right side Jonathan Andrews (Palisades Park, N.J./North Bergen), the Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week, hit a spectacular .636 with eight kills (one error) in 11 swings, adding two blocks (one assist). Ramirez, Moreira and Andrews combined for 36 of NJCU's 43 total kills.
 
Freshman setter Jimmy Vega (Harrison, N.J./Harrison) set at a .438 percentage, dishing 35 assists with two kills in two swings. Sophomore libero David Penaherrera (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) delivered 14 digs.
 
CSI's Mark Palencia had 12 kills and hit .212 (12-5-33) but no other Dolphins had more than four kills. Adil El Haddad had 20 assists.
 

NJCU trailed 16-11 in game one before igniting for a 10-0 outburst to claim a 21-16 lead. Ramirez had four kills during the run. Eight of the points during the tear came via kills, including six points in a row, with back-to-back by Vega to take the lead. NJCU had 13 kills in the game.
 
NJCU hit .333 in game two with 18 kills (18-6-36). Down by two early, the Knights had six points in a row to claim an 11-7 lead. CSI shaved the margin to two late in the game (20-18) before the Knights scratched off four straight points to seize a 24-18 lead. Ramirez had consecutive kills followed by a solo block during that late stretch.
 
Tied 10-10 in the third set, NJCU scored the next six points to grab a 16-10 margin, then uncorked eight of the final nine points to seal the win. The Knights hit .300 in game three, with 12 winners (12-6-20).
 
OF NOTE:

• 'Bayonne Bridge Series': NJCU leads, 3-0.
• Julian Moreira reached double figures in kills for the fifth time in seven matches.
• The match was the first of an eight-match road trip for NJCU.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU will participate in the Knight Classic at Arcadia University on Saturday, February 18 in Glenside, Pa. NJCU meets No. 15 ranked Nazareth College in the 1 p.m. match before challenging host Arcadia, a first-year program. It will be NJCU's first-ever meeting against either program.