JAMAICA, QUEENS,  N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Three players registered double figures in kills as the New Jersey City University men's volleyball team defeated York College (NY), 3-1, by a 25-15, 27-25, 23-25, 25-20 outcome in non-conference action on March 22.
 
NJCU (9-10) won for the second straight day as sophomore outside hitter Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen), junior right side Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) and rookie outside Leo Ferrari (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) all posted 10 or more kills. NJCU's middle hitters, freshman Jeffry Rodriguez (Elizabeth, NJ/John E. Dwyer Technology AcademyElizabeth, N.J. (John E. Dwyer Technology Academy) and sophomore Christian Ramirez (West New York, NJ/Memorial) combined to hit .706 from the position in the win. NJCU had 17 more kills than York (3-18) in the win, a 51-34 margin.
 
Both teams had good team hitting percentages in the contest with NJCU hitting .344 in the win (51-18-96) and the Cardinals at a .333 level in the loss (34-10-72).
 
The difference was NJCU's serving as the Gothic Knights aces the Cardinals 15 times with Andrews, Ferrari and rookie setter Aaron Mantilla (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) each unloading on four aces individually.
 
Andrews finished with a .320 attack percentage and 13 kills (13-5-25) with his four aces and Ferrari hit .238 with 10 kills (10-5-21), four aces and six digs. Moreira hit .368 with 10 kills (10-3-19). Ramirez was near flawless, punishing six kills in seven swings with no errors for an .857 percentage. Rodriguez hit better than .500 for the third time this week, pounding seven kills in 10 attempts (7-1-10) for a .600 accuracy rate. Mantilla finished with 21 assists and four aces and both junior setter Jimmy Vega (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) and sophomore setter Alexander Umanzor (West New York, NJ/Memorial) each added 14 assists.
 
York was led by senior middle blocker Kevin Campbell (Queens, N.Y.) who hit .360 with 12 kills (12-3-25) and seven digs while sophomore outside Akil Vaughn (Georgetown, Guyana) led with a match-high 14 kills (14-4-34, .294) and three blocks. Junior Philton Paul (Roseau, Dominica) finished with 22 assists.
 
RUN of PLAY NOTES:

• NJCU hit a colossal .529 as a team in game one with 11 kills (11-2-17) and overcame seven ties and five lead changes early on before pulling away for a 10-point win. NJCU had an 80 percent sideout rate in the win (12-15). Leading by one (10-9), Andrews landed a kill then unleashing three consecutive aces to open a 14-9 lead as NJCU pulled away. Mantilla had back-to-back aces to later make it 19-12.
• There were 15 ties and seven lead changes in a second set that went to extended points. NJCU hit .370 in the second set with 15 kills (15-5-27) but the Cardinals responded by hitting .421 in the set (10-2-19).
• NJCU looked to sweep the match but York survived 13 ties and six lead changes in the third set. NJCU had five more kills than York in the game (12-7) but the Cardinals only committed three attack errors. NJCU led 23-21, two points away from the sweep, before York scored the final four points of the set, including a kill and ace by Vaughn, to extend the match.
• Both teams hit over .300 in the final set. NJCU hit .308 with 13 kills (13-5-25). York hit a solid .375 but had only eight kills (8-2-16) and a dismal 45 percent sideout rate (11-24). Leading by two (21-19), Ferrari had a kill and an ace to give NJCU match point before Andrews sealed it.

 

OF NOTE:

• Series: 29th meeting. NJCU leads all-time, 23-6, and has won 20 of the last 21 meetings.
• Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) reached double figures in kills for the sixth time in his career and third time this season.
• Leo Ferrari (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) reached double figures in kills for the second time this season.
• Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) reached double figures in kills for the sixth time this season and the 32nd time in 68 matches in his NJCU career.

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU plays for the third day in a row on Saturday, March 23 when it hosts Brooklyn College (7-11) and College of Saint Elizabeth (4-9) in a non-conference tri-match at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. The first match begins at 11 a.m. against Brooklyn, with a neutral court sandwiching the day. NJCU wraps up the day against CSE. NJCU and Brooklyn meet for the 26th time and NJCU leads all-time, 24-1. Brooklyn swept NJCU last year (March 1, 2018), 25-23, 25-16, 26-24 for its only win. The Knights are 2-0 all-time against the Eagles.
 
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