CHESTER, Pa. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team stuffed 11.0 blocks in a three set sweep of host Widener University on February 5, winning the non-conference matchup 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-16).
 
In the first-ever meeting between the clubs, NJCU evened its record at 2-2 and handed the Pride (2-1) their first loss of the season. NJCU hit a notable .338 as a team with 31 kills (31-8-68), limiting Widener to .060 (26-21-83).
 
Junior outside hitter Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen), the New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Week, was NJCU's top performer, hitting .375 with seven kills (7-1-16), six digs, four blocks and two aces. Sophomore middle blocker Jeffry Rodriguez (Elizabeth, NJ/John E. Dwyer Technology AcademyElizabeth, N.J. (John E. Dwyer Technology Academy) put away eight kills and hit .333 (8-3-15) with three blocks.
 
Also for NJCU, senior right side Julian Moreira (Miami, FL/Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Biscayne Bay Campus) had nine digs, six kills (.235, 6-2-17) and three blocks and freshman middle blocker Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) rejected seven blocks (one solo, six assisted) and hit .750 with three kills in four swings. Sophomore setter Leo Ferrari (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) finished with 24 assists.
 
Freshman outside Cole Nagle (Doylestown, Pa.) was the Pride's top performer with a match-high 10 kills, hitting .208 (10-5-24) and five digs. Sophomore opposite/setter Alex Arnow (North Wales, Pa.) finished with seven kills at a .235 clip.
 
NJCU posted dominant attack percentages in the first two sets, hitting .409 in game one with 10 kills and only one error (22 attempts) and .400 in game two with 11 kills (11-3-20). 
 
The Knights jumped out to leads of 5-0 and 8-1 in the opening set and led 13-4 before Widener put together five straight points to draw within 13-9. Three straight kills by Moreira, Ferrari and Rodriguez allowed NJCU to pull away and Widener never came closer than four the rest of the set. 
 
In game two NJCU fell behind 8-7 before uncorking five straight points, capped by a double block by Rodriguez and DaSilva. Another combo block by freshman James Bajor (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and Rodriguez and a Moreira ace extended the run to 8-1 and the lead to 15-9. Widener got as close as three (19-16 and 20-17) before back-to-back kills from Moreira and Ferrari allowed NJCU to seal the set.
 
NJCU landed 10 kills in the third set, hitting .231 while limiting the Pride to a -.037 rate. The Knights trailed 3-0 before an 8-1 outburst, including five straight points, turned the set around. NJCU pulled away in the middle of the set and led 17-10 after Rodriguez floored two kills during three straight points and Andrews had two kills during a 5-0 run that extended the lead to 10, 22-12.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: First-ever meeting.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• NJCU is idle for 10 days until it hosts a non-conference tri-match on Saturday, February 15 beginning at 11 a.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court). NJCU will host Brooklyn College and Wilkes University.

 
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