JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team played a strong match at home at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Wednesday night, Feb. 1, against the #1-ranked team in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III National Poll, Stevens Institute of Technology. The Gothic Knights fought hard and made strong runs in every set, but eventually fell to the top-ranked Ducks, 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-17).

NJCU (1-2) stayed with Stevens (9-1) in each set, starting off with the first, as the home squad trailed by just one at 12-11. Unfortunately, a 7-2 run stretched the score out to 19-13 before the Ducks took a 1-0 match lead. The second set started off tough for the Gothic Knights as Stevens jumped out to a 12-4 lead. However, head coach Carlo Edra's squad regrouped briefly and cut that lead in half to make it 12-8. The Ducks did eventually go up by nine later on before taking the set, 25-16. Jersey City controlled the third and final set for much of the first portion, holding a slim lead to the point where the home team was up 10-8. However, a 10-3 run by Stevens flipped the score and made it 18-13 before the nation's top squad closed out the match on a 6-1 run, making it 25-17 and 3-0.

Highlights:
- Senior co-captain opposite James Bajor (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) had a very strong night and finished with a match-high 11 kills and just five errors on 28 swings (.214 hitting percentage). He added eight digs and a block, as well.
- Senior outside hitter Leo Ferrari (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) ended with eight kills, six digs, two aces and a block.
- Junior outside hitter Mahmoud Serour (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) notched five kills, an ace, a block and two digs.
- Senior libero Daniel Esteva (Union, N.J./Union) led all players with a match-best 10 digs.
- Both NJCU middles, senior co-captain Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and sophomore Nate Aguilar (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), finished with a pair of blocks each.
- Rookie setter Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) led NJCU with 24 assists to go with two digs, a block and a kill.

Up Next:
Jersey City returns to action back at the JMAC on Saturday, Feb. 4, for its first tri-match of the season. NJCU first faces off with New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Kean University at 11:00 a.m. The Cougars then take on first-year program The College at Old Westbury at 1:00 p.m. The Gothic Knights finish off the day with a 3:00 p.m. clash against those same first-year Panthers.