JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University played Baruch College even statistically but the Bearcats were more efficient in tied moments in the match and edged the Gothic Knights 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 27-25) on March 19 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
In NJCU's first match in 12 days (7-10), the Knights had just four fewer kills (38-34) but committed four more attack errors as Baruch (13-9, Won 3) hit .217 as a team and only had eight errors in the first two sets.
 
NJCU lost despite an awesome effort from junior Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus), who made the move from middle to outside and was dominant, hitting .565 with 13 kills and no errors (23 attempts). Freshman middle hitter Jeffry Rodriguez (Elizabeth, NJ/John E. Dwyer Technology AcademyElizabeth, N.J. (John E. Dwyer Technology Academy) enjoyed perhaps his best match, hitting .500 with seven kills (7-1-12) and five blocks, including two solo stuffs.
 
Also for NJCU, sophomore outside hitter Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) landed five of NJCU's six service aces. Junior setter Jimmy Vega (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) and sophomore Alexander Umanzor (West New York, NJ/Memorial) each handed out 14 assists.
 
Baruch was led by three players who accounted for 34 of its 38 kills. Junior outside Steven Lopez (Port Washington, N.Y.) hit .320 with a match-high 14 kills (14-6-25) and two aces while junior opposite Artem Zinkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit .280 with 12 kills (12-5-25). Senior outside Nicholas Godino (Plainview, N.Y.) hit .368 with eight kills (8-1-19) and six digs.
 
Also for Baruch, sophomore setter Edward Grinberg (Brooklyn, N.Y.) handed out 31 assists. Senior libero Kyriakos Semertzidis (Stony Brook, N.Y.) delivered 12 digs. Sophomore middle Meni Musheyev (Forest Hills, N.Y.) mustered five blocks.
 
The Bearcats hit .417 in the opening game (13-3-24) and used that to set the tone for its offense. The second set was back-and-forth until, even at 16-16, Lopez and Godino put away back-to-back kills and an NJCU attack error made it 19-16. NJCU couldn't draw closer than two again.
 
In the third set, NJCU opened up an 18-14 lead on two kills from Moreira and an ace by Andrews but couldn't hold it as Baruch rallied, and was awarded a 22-21 lead after a red card. NJCU tied it and the teams played it even at 23-23 and 24-24 after a kill by Moreira and Andrews ace gave NJCU set point. When Baruch tied it at 24-24, Rodriguez smashed an attack for a second set point, 25-24. But Godino tied it again and miscommunication by NJCU on a second ball touch gave Baruch match point. The Bearcats capitalized as Zinkin put away a swing on the right side.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 30th meeting. All-time series even, 15-15. Baruch has won the last five meetings. First meeting since February 5, 2013.
• Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) reached double figures in kills for the fifth time this season and the 31st time in 66 matches in his NJCU career.

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU is back at home on Thursday, March 21 when it hosts St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) at 7 p.m. NJCU leads the all-time series, 4-0, sweeping each matchup, 3-0. The Bears are 1-14 on the season.
 
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