RIVERDALE, N.Y. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team picked up a much-needed Skyline Conference win on the road on Thursday night, March 23, in three sets (25-14, 25-19, 25-20) over the College of Mount Saint Vincent. With the victory, NJCU slides back into sole possession of third place in the Skyline standings with five more conference matches remaining in the regular-season.

Jersey City (13-8, 6-3 Skyline) took control early on in the first after the squad traded off for a few points with the Dolphins (8-11, 5-3 Skyline). Trailing 7-5, the Gothic Knights went on a 6-2 run — including a kill and an ace from senior setter Leo Ferrari (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) — to jump ahead 11-9. After CMSV tied it back up at 11-11, NJCU went on an 11-1 run to take 22-12 lead, thanks in part to some strong play by senior co-captain James Bajor (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), who had three aces and a kill. Then, up 22-13, fellow senior co-captain Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) notched a pair of blocks to help his team to a 25-14 set win.

NJCU built up a healthy lead in the second before CMSV came back to make it a two-point, 13-11 game at the midway mark. However, a 6-2 run for the Gothic Knights stretched it out to a 19-13 game, thanks to two kills and a block from freshman Amaru Perales (Harrison, N.J./Harrison). Then, leading 20-16, NJCU was gifted four straight Dolphins errors to make it 24-16 before eventually winning the set, 25-19.

The Gothic Knights had to come back three points down in the third and final set, as they trailed 15-12 midway through. Thankfully, a well-timed 9-2 run solved those problems to put Jersey City up, 21-17. DaSilva was dominant over that stretch, notching another solo block and three more kills. The two teams then traded off points until NJCU led 23-20. The visitors won the final two points on a kill from Perales and a Dolphin error to take the set, 25-20, and the match in three.

Highlights:
- Bajor and Perales led all players with 12.5 points apiece. Bajor had seven kills, a match-high four aces, four digs and three blocks, while Perales finished with a match-best 11 kills and three blocks, as well.
- DaSilva tied for the match-high with a team-best four total blocks to go with eight kills and a dig.
- Ferrari led all players in both digs (6) and assists (28), adding an ace and a couple of kills, as well.

Up Next:
Tonight's match marks the end of a four-game road trip as NJCU returns to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Saturday, March 25, for a home Skyline tri-match against CMSV and Sarah Lawrence College, beginning with an 11:00 a.m. clash against the Gryphons. SLC takes on the Dolphins at 1:00 p.m. before the Gothic Knights close out the day at 3:00 p.m. against CMSV.