JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team hosted a non-conference tri-match at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Friday, March 10. The Gothic Knights started off the day with a tough three-set loss (25-18, 25-17, 25-17) to #RV Wentworth Institute of Technology but fired back with a strong five-set win (23-25, 25-14, 25-123, 26-28, 15-12) over Misericordia University to finish up play for the day. 

The Gothic Knights (9-6) had some strong runs and individual performances against the Leopards (12-6), led by seven kills from senior opposite James Bajor (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), seven digs from senior libero Daniel Esteva (Union, N.J./Union), 20 assists from freshman setter Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) and three blocks apiece from Bajor and freshman middle blocker Amaru Perales (Harrison, N.J./Harrison). Senior middle blocker Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) also added six kills, while Perales had five. Junior outside hitter Mahmoud Serour (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) had four kills and two digs.

NJCU then came back in the third and final match of the day and fought for a five-set victory over the Cougars (10-18). The first set looked to be all Gothic Knights as the home team jumped out to a six-point, 13-7 lead. However, Misericordia came back to win the set, 25-23. The second was the most lopsided of the day. Trailing 6-5 early on, Jersey City came back with a 12-2 run to take a 17-8 lead. Serour had three kills and one block during that stretch. NJCU then closed out the set with an 8-2 run to win it, 25-14. Bajor had two kills and a block as part of that run.

The third set was extremely even as the Cougars led, 15-14, midway through. NJCU then went on an 8-3 run to take a 22-18 lead, including a handful of Misericordia errors and a couple of combined blocks for the Gothic Knights. The Cougars won five of the next seven points, however, to put the pressure on. Fortunately, Perales closed out the set with an exclamation point of a kill to win it, 25-23.

Neither team was able to take control in the fourth set until midway through when the Cougars went up, 15-12. NJCU answered with a quick 5-1 run to go back on top, 17-16. From the point forward, the two teams traded the lead back and forth nearly 20 times before Jersey City took a 25-24 lead. Misericordia won four of the final five points to take the set, 28-26, and force a fifth set.

The story was much of the same to start off as the Cougars took a slim 7-6 lead. Three straight points for the Green and Gold turned the tide to take a 9-7 lead. The team's traded points until Jersey City won two straight on kills from DaSilva and Bajor gave the home team a 13-10 lead. The two would repeat those moves to make it 14-11 and then 15-12, which was the final.

Highlights vs. Misericordia:
- Bajor led NJCU with 16 kills and added 11 digs for his second double-double of the season.
- Serour had an extremely efficient match, as well, with a career-best 15 kills on 28 swings with just two errors (.464 hitting percentage) to go with six digs and a career-high five total blocks.
- Esteva led all players with a season-best and career-high-tying 21 digs to go with six assists.
- DaSilva notched 10 kills and three errors on 20 swings (.350) and tied Serour with a match-high-tying five total blocks.
- Senior setter Leo Ferrari (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) dished out 39 assists to go with 13 digs for his third double-double of the season. 
- Perales added five kills and four blocks, while junior outside hitter Mike McGehee (Avondale, Ariz./Agua Fria) chipped in three kills and two digs.
- Junior defensive specialist Nico Figueroa (Jersey City, N.J./County Prep) chipped in 10 digs.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, March 11, for a home Skyline Conference match at the JMAC against Ramapo College, beginning at 12:00 p.m.