JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team had 14 of its players see at least one set of action, including 12 that played two or more, on Thursday night, Jan. 26. The Gothic Knights nailed down their first victory of the season over Bard College in four sets (25-20, 25-14, 23-25, 25-17) and finished the night hitting .333 on 102 attempts.
Overall, NJCU (1-1) had 9.5 points or more from four different players, including a team-best 11 kills on 14 swings with just two errors (.643 hitting percentage) and a game-high-tying four total blocks from senior co-captain middle blocker
Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), as well as 10 kills, two blocks, seven digs and a ace from senior co-captain outsider hitter
James Bajor (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne). Additionally, a pair of Jersey City rookie setters combined for 44 assists in
Erik Narvaez (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) and
Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) — Narvaez led all players with 27 to go with his match-best nine digs against the Raptors (0-4).
The first set was a tight one as, despite the Green and Gold jumping out to several large leads, Bard managed to stay within two as late as 18-16. Fortunately, a pair of kills from freshman opposite
Jinsoo Han (Chungju, South Korea/Taejon Christian International School), one kill each from Bajor and DaSiva and three errors from the Raptors closed out the set, 25-20, for NJCU.
Jersey City hit .333 in the second set and held the Raptors to just -0.15 swinging en rout to its strongest set of the night, a 25-14 win. Bard actually managed an early 4-3 lead, but NJCU outscored the visitors 22-10 for the remainder of the set. DaSilva was a perfect 5-of-5 in attack attempts in the second, while sophomore middle blocker
Nate Aguilar (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) had a couple of error-less kills and a pair of blocks.
Looking to close it out in three, the Gothic Knights fell behind big early on to Bard. Jersey City trailed by at least six points on multiple occasions, but the Raptors continued to put the pressure on to the tune of an eight-point 22-14 lead. However, momentum then swung in NJCU's direction as the home team comeback was on and the match looked to be a three-setter. Jersey City, saw the trio of freshman outside hitter
Ethen Lugo (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), Aguilar and junior opposite
Kenneth Gil (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) combine for seven kills, while Bard committed a pair of errors to give the Gothic Knights 9-2 run, totally changing the game and bringing it to 24-23. However, a service error ended the set and Bard took its one an only on the night, 25-23.
The fourth and final set was much more even to start, with both squads knotted up at 7-7. Then, an 8-2 run for NJCU turned it around and the Gothic Knights found themselves up, 16-9. Junior outside hitter
Mahmoud Serour (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) had a pair of kills and was also part of an exclamation point three-man block to end the run, teaming with DaSilva and Gil. After a quick three in a row for Bard, Jersey City outscored the Raptors 10-5 for the remainder of the match to secure the 25-17 set win and 3-1 match victory.
Highlights:
- Aguilar ended his night with six error-less kills on 12 swings (.500) to go with a match-high-tying four total blocks.
- Gil finished with a career-high-tying seven kills and just one error on 12 swings (.500) to go with career-best marks in total blocks (3.0) and digs (6).
- Serour also had six kills and no errors on an efficient seven attempts (.857) to go with five digs and a block.
- Lugo ended with three kills, two aces and two digs. Casais ended with 17 assists, while Han had three kills.
Up Next:
Jersey City now takes nearly a week's break before returning to action back at home on Wednesday night, Feb. 1, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) against #3-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology in a Hudson County battle. The Ducks are currently 5-1 — 5-0 in Division III play — including a 3-1 win over now-#7 St. John Fisher University and 3-0 sweeps of #RV St. Joseph's University-Long Island and #5 Vassar College. Stevens plays three more matches before coming to Jersey City for Wednesday night's 7:00 p.m. clash.
