UNION, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team (3-5, 0-1 NJAC) battled the No. 7 and No. 8 teams in the country in a tough tri-match on February 16 at Kean's Harwood Arena. The Gothic Knights were swept by No.8 SUNY New Paltz (9-3) in the opening match (25-12, 25-21, 27-25) before falling in four games (25-19, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22) to No. 7 Kean University (12-3, 1-0 NJAC).
 
The match with Kean was the first New Jersey Athletic Conference match in the history of the league. The 2019 season is the first year the NJAC sponsors men's volleyball as a sport with NJCU and Kean, joining Ramapo and Rutgers-Newark in the league. Kean beat New Paltz, 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 16-25, 15-12) in the tri-match opener.
 
MATCH 1:  SUNY New Paltz 3, New Jersey City 0 (25-12, 25-21, 27-25)
Despite being fresh off a five-setter with Kean, New Paltz started hot against the Gothic Knights, with their best game being the first. The Knights weren't able to string together even two straight points at any point in the first set, and NP made just three errors, en route to a 25-12 decisive first set for the Hawks. NP had a perfect 13-for-13 sideout rate in the set.
 
The second set was much closer, as NJCU actually tallied more kills (11-7) and had a better hitting percentage (.350 to .250) than New Paltz, but a strong finish by NP let the Hawks put the second set away. After the Knights got to within one at 20-19- thanks to a kill from sophomore Alexander Umanzor (West New York, NJ/Memorial)—the Hawks took five of the next seven points to close out the set.
 
The Knight continued their overall upward trajectory in the match with their play in the third set, holding their own with the No. 8 team in the country, even having set point at 25-24, but Paltz showed their steady hand with three straight points to close out the game and the match. The Hawks had 17 of their 30 match kills in the third.
 
The Knights had a balanced approach on the day, with no one player reaching double figures in any category. They were led by six kills from sophomore outside hitter Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen), nine assists from Aaron Mantilla (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), and eight digs from Leo Ferrari (Kearny, NJ/Kearny). Junior middle hitter Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) hit .500 with four kills in eight swings and two blocks.
 
On the flip side of things, the Clark-to-Spulnick connection was strong for the Hawks, as freshman setter Cam Clark (Farmington, N.Y.) had a match-high 23 assists, and freshman outside hitter Brendan Spulnick (Clifton Park, N.Y.) led the way with 10 kills, two aces and two blocks. Freshman opposite Tim Drake (Massapequa, N.Y.) added seven kills and a .312 percentage (7-2-16).
 
New Paltz only had a 30-22 advantage in kills in the match but posted a stellar overall sideout rate of 73 percent (44-60). NP added seven aces and 6.0 blocks as a team.
 
MATCH 2:  Kean 3, New Jersey City 1 (25-19, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22)
In what was the first-ever official NJAC game (Kean and Rutgers-Newark were scheduled to play on February 12, but weather got in the way), the Knights hung tough with the preseason favorites, playing a solid match highlighted by an excellent third set for NJCU.
 
In the first set, the Knights battled hard, sporting 11 kills to just five errors (.261 hitting percentage), but the Cougars were playing out of their mind, with a .500 hitting percentage and just two errors for the whole set. They took an early lead and were able to stay ahead wire-to-wire, despite NJCU never being that far out of it.
 
Both teams committed a few more errors in the second, although there were still kills aplenty, with both teams reaching double-digit kills for the set. This time, the Knights were right there with the Cougars through the first half of the set, trailing only 16-14 after a kill from Moreira, but the Cougars slowly increased their lead late to win the set, 25-18.
 
The Knights were not to be deterred, however. They came out in the third with a passion, taking leads of 4-1, 9-6, and 14-10, but the Cougars eventually tied things up at 14-14. NJCU responded instantly by going on a 7-1 run, and they held on down the stretch, with Moreira and Ferrari trading big kills in the impressive third set win. The Knights tallied 17 kills for the set and hit .379.
 
NJCU looked to carry that momentum over into the fourth set, and they did for a bit. The Knights scored the first two points of the fourth and held the lead for most of the first half of the set. They led as late as 16-15, but the No. 7 Cougars slowly pulled away late, ending the match before a decisive fifth set was needed. NJCU got a close as 23-21 but couldn't force the fifth.
 
Moreira, Andrews, and Ferrari all had strong efforts for the Knights, with 13, nine, and eight kills respectively. Mantilla and Jimmy Vega (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) each tallied 17 assists.
 
Moreira had a line of 13-7-22, hitting .222 with three blocks. Ferrari was a consistent .375 hitter (8-2-16) with a match-high 11 digs and two blocks. Umanzor hit .333 with six kills (6-2-12) and freshman middle Jeffry Rodriguez (Elizabeth, NJ/John E. Dwyer Technology AcademyElizabeth, N.J. (John E. Dwyer Technology Academy) added six kills and three blocks.
 
For the Cougars, sophomore setter Zach Gerken (Buffalo, N.Y.) had a standout performance with 36 assists, while junior right side Dylan Flor (Quakertown, Pa.) led the team with 11 kills, while hitting .409. Sophomore outside Seth Russell (Wexford, Pa.) chipped in nine kills (.273, 9-3-22) and eight digs.
 
Kean only had two more kills than NJCU (46-44), but committed seven fewer errors and hit .272 as a team.
 
OF NOTE:

• Both Kean and New Paltz ranked the respective No. 7 and No. 8 positions in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Top 15 Poll.
• Series vs. SUNY New Paltz: 25th meeting. Paltz is 23-2 and has won the last 18 meetings.
• Series vs. Kean: 17th meeting. Kean has won all 17 matches.
• NJCU has lost 64 consecutive matches against nationally ranked opponents. NJCU is 0-3 this year vs. ranked foes (Lancaster Bible, New Paltz, Kean) and 0-1 versus those receiving votes (Hunter).
• Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) reached double figures in kills for the second time this season and the 28th time in 57 matches in his NJCU career.

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU hosts Wilkes University (5-6) in a non-conference match on Wednesday, February 20 (7 p.m.) at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
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