JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University posted 7.0 blocks in the first two sets and held what appeared to be a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. But Lehman College's offense heated up in the final three sets, took advantage of some Gothic Knight errors and rallied to stun NJCU, 3-2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-16, 16-14) on February 8 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU (2-4) entered the match with just 11.0 blocks in 17 sets over five matches on the season and doubled that total in the loss with 12.0 total blocks—its most blocks in a match since the 2015 season. But the Gothic Knights didn't reach double figures in any of the five sets and Lehman (3-4) swung for double figure kills in every set, including the fifth, for a substantial 60-32 margin, and that was the ultimate difference in the match.
 
Junior outside hitter Roberto Ventura Diaz (New York, N.Y.) and freshman outside Felipe Delgado Velanadia (New York, N.Y.) combined for 42 of the 60 kills to pace the Lightning. Diaz pounded out 24 kills and added 13 digs while hitting .255 (24-10-55). He added three aces and two blocks. Velanadia hit .333 with 18 kills (18-6-36), 11 digs and seven assists.
 
Sophomore middle hitter Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) was the lone Gothic Knight in double figures in kills with 11, hitting .280 (11-4-25) and two blocks. Freshman middle Dave Etienne (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) ignited at the next, stuffing 10 blocks (two solo, eight assisted) and seven kills. It was the most blocks by an individual player since the 2015 campaign.
 
Also for NJCU, sophomore outside hitter Edgar Crespo (Newark, NJ/Science Park) had 10 digs, sophomore setter Jimmy Vega (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) tallied 13 assists and nine digs and rookie setter Luis Ayala (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) contributed 12 assists, eight digs and two aces. Freshmen right sides Joseph Stawicki (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) and Alexander Umanzor (West New York, NJ/Memorial) had four and three blocks, respectively.
 
Also for Lehman, junior middle blocker Yaw Eshun (Ghana, West Africa) totaled eight kills and four blocks. Freshman libero Juan Carlos Santos (Bronx, N.Y.) finished with 10 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were 12 ties and four lead changes in the first set. Trailing 16-15, NJCU reeled off four points in a row to build a 19-16 lead and still led 20-17 before Lehman rallied to tie it on three straight kills. NJCU led by one, 22-21 before scoring the final three points of the set, including an ace by Etienne and a kill from Umanzor.
 
In the second set two blocks by Etienne and Stawicki gave NJCU an 11-7 lead and the Knights worked the margin to 24-18. Lehman staved off three set points with three straight kills before Umanzor clinched another set with a kill.
 
NJCU started some of its reserves in the third set and the Lightning came out swinging, grabbing an early 11-6. When NJCU drew within two (15-13), Lehman reeled off five straight points, highlighted by four kills by Diaz to grab a 20-13 lead and prevail by seven. Lehman hit .440 in the third set with 16 kills (16-5-25)
 
Lehman's win in game three carried over to game four and its momentum allowed the Lightning to hit .304 with 11 kills. Meanwhile, the Knights hit -.240 in the game with only four kills and 10 attack errors. Tied 7-7, Lehman scored eight consecutive points because of seven straight attack errors committed by NJCU, and forced a fifth set, 25-16.
 
The decisive fifth set was up for grabs with nine ties. NJCU did lead by two, the last time at 7-5 before the Lightning scored the next three points and the clubs were even at 10-10. NJCU had a chance to win when Umanzor and Moreira put away back-to-back kills. But the Knights made a crucial mistake, passing a free ball out of bounds and Diaz planted back-to-back kills to force ties at 12-12 and 13-13. A double block by Etienne and Umanzor gave NJCU match point (14-13). But Lehman scored the final three points—a kill by Diaz, a double block led by Diaz and an NJCU attack error, to overcome the Knights, 16-14.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 41st meeting. NJCU leads, 26-15. NJCU has won 21 of the last 24 meetings; Lehman has won the last two meetings.
• Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) has reached double figures in kills 18 times in 34 matches in his NJCU career.
• Dave Etienne (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson)'s 10 blocks are the most since Kendall Tribbett (1-12) has 13 blocks and Jalen Sorrell added 11 blocks (2-9) in a 3-2 win against CCNY on March 3, 2015.
• Edgar Crespo (Newark, NJ/Science Park) defended double figure digs for the fifth time in his career and the second straight match.

 
 
UP NEXT:
NJCU plays the third of four consecutive home matches on Friday, February 9 when it hosts St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn). The Bears are 0-2 to start the year and have lost their last 12 matches dating to last season. NJCU leads the all-time series, 3-0 (3 sweeps).
 
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