JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Hunter College limited its errors and used a strong setting effort to sweep a non-conference men's volleyball match from the New Jersey City University men's volleyball team in the Gothic Knights 2019 home opener played on Valentine's Day at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
Hunter, winners of three consecutive CUNYAC championships and appearances in the NCAA Tournament, was playing its first match since upsetting No. 3 ranked New Paltz on February 9 and the Hawks (5-3) reeled off their fifth consecutive win, snapping NJCU's win streak at two. NJCU fell back to .500 at 3-3.
 
Hunter had a 30-24 edge in kills, and had five less service errors (17-12). NJCU stayed competitive in the match thanks to a solid blocking effort of 10.0 rejections.
 
In defeat, junior middle hitter Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) produced seven kills, seven blocks (six assisted) and two aces. Freshman outside Leo Ferrari (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), the back-to-back New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, hit .364 with five kills (5-1-11), seven digs and four blocks. Sophomore outside Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) defended 11 digs.
 
Also for NJCU, sophomore right side Joseph Stawicki (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) picked up four blocks and freshman middle Jeffry Rodriguez (Elizabeth, NJ/John E. Dwyer Technology AcademyElizabeth, N.J. (John E. Dwyer Technology Academy) added five kills and two blocks.
 
For Hunter, sophomore setter Alec Helford (Massapequa, N.Y.) led the Hawks, dishing 22 assists at a .314 clip. Seven kills came from freshman outside Christian Maisonet (Glendale, N.Y.) in only two sets of action, hitting .286,  with two blocks. Junior middle Cyrus De Guzman (Roslyn Heights, N.Y.) added four kills and four blocks and preseason CUNYAC Player of the Year Blake Hogan contributed six kills and defended 10 digs. Sophomore right side Qendrim Shala (Bay Shore, N.Y.) finished with six kills.
 
'SETTING' IT UP

• In the opening set, Hunter opened up leads of 17-11 and 21-13. NJCU scored five in a row as Moreira and Ferrari each had a block and a kill to draw within 21-18, but Hunter scored the next three and won the opening set on a service error.
• In the second set, NJCU trailed 14-7 but clawed its way back in, scoring five of the next six points, with a double block by Moreira and Ferrari sandwiched around kills from Stawicki and Rodriguez. Hunter, hanging onto a 15-12 lead, scored the next eight points, aided by five NJCU attack errors and a ball handling error, to claim a 23-12 lead, and won by nine, 25-16.
• NJCU showed fight in the third set, claiming a 13-11 lead on a block by Moreira and Stawicki as part of a four-point swing. NJCU would continue to lead and a swing by Stawicki managed to make it 18-16. But the Hawks rallied. Back-to-back kills by Maisonet ignited a 5-1 run to put Hunter back on top, 21-19. NJCU tied it at 22-22 on a solo block by Stawicki, before back-to-back errors gave the visitors match point and Hunter won on a solo block.

 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 31st meeting. Hunter leads all-time, 19-12.

 
UP NEXT:
After playing one team destined to be in the NCAA Tournament, NJCU will square off with two more this weekend when it heads to Union, N.J. for a non-conference tri-match on Saturday, February 16 against No. 8 SUNY New Paltz and No. 7 Kean, beginning at 2 p.m.
 
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