JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team accomplished something that no other team in the history of the program has ever done last season when the Gothic Knights were crowned the 2021 Skyline Conference champions, earning a bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship. In honor of those accomplishments, each member of NJCU's squad from last year were rewarded with commemorative championship rings during the pre-match ceremony on Friday night, Feb. 18. Once the match began, however, Jersey City was all business and made quick work of non-conference foe John Jay College in straight sets (25-8, 25-11, 25-21) to open up home play for the 2022 campaign with a convincing bang.
The Green and Gold (5-4) made no doubts about it, immediately laying the hammer down against the Bloodhounds (2-5) by starting off the match on a 16-2 run in the first set, including taking the first 10 points. Then, leading 16-5, NJCU closed out the first set with a 9-3 run, capped off by a convincing kill from junior tri-captain middle blocker
Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) to clinch the 1-0 lead.
Jersey City continued to put the pressure on and began set number two with a 9-3 run, including a pair of aces from senior setter
Leo Ferrari (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), a couple kills from junior tri-captain opposite
James Bajor (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) and more. Then, after John Jay got back to within two at 9-7, NJCU enjoyed a 12-2 run to a commanding 21-9 lead. Freshman middle blocker
Nate Aguilar (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) notched a pair of blocks and two kills during that run, while senior outside hitter
Jonathan Andrews (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) had a trio of kills. Then with a 22-11 advantage, the Gothic Knights recorded three straight points to take the set and the 2-0 lead, capped off by a nice pair of assisted blocks from Bajor and Aguilar.
Set number three was the closest of the match as a handful of Gothic Knights saw action for the first time on the night in this one. Sophomore outside hitter
Mahmoud Serour (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) was a force in the third set, recording a match-high-tying five kills on 10 swings with just one error (.400 hitting percentage) in the final game alone. In control for the first time all night, John Jay held a 9-8 lead midway through, however the Gothic Knights went on spree to the tune of a 7-1 run and took a 15-10 lead. Serour had three kills and a block during this stretch, while senior setter
Aaron Mantilla (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) also notched a pair of aces. Later leading by only two at 20-18, freshman outside hitter
Anthony Trivers (Washington Township, N.J./Washington Township) notched an ace, followed by a Serour kill to make it 23-13. NJCU eventually took the match 25-21, capped off by a statement kill from sophomore opposite
Kenneth Gil (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen), which sent his teammates into a celebratory frenzy as the squad clinched the win.
Highlights:
- Serour and Bajor tied each other with five kills on the night. The latter was an efficient 5-of-7 on swings with just one error (.571) to go with a match-best five digs and three total blocks.
- Andrews ended with four kills on seven swings with one error (.429).
- Aguilar led all players with five total blocks to go with four kills.
- Ferrari led all players in assists (14) and aces (5), followed by Mantilla and his 10 assists.
Up Next:
Having successfully defended their home court, the Gothic Knights return to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Sunday, Feb. 20, for a tri-match. NJCU first hosts Brooklyn College at 10:00 a.m. and then welcome familiar foe Kean University at 2:00 p.m. The Bulldogs and Cougars will square off on neutral ground at 12:00 p.m., as well.
