UNION, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team began its 2024 campaign tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 24, visiting the Kean Cougars in Union, N.J. for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tilt. The Gothic Knights fought well, taking the third set in extra points, but ultimately fell in four (20-25, 20-25, 28-26, 20-25).
Kean (3-2) took an early 3-1 lead over the Gothic Knights (0-1), trying to get momentum to start the evening. Graduate student and tri-captain opposite
James Bajor (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) retaliated with a kill on the following rally, but Kean went on two separate 5-1 runs and had a 24-18 lead with set point. NJCU followed up with a kill by senior outside hitter
Mahmoud Serour (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and then forced a Kean attacking error, but the Cougars closed out the first in the following sequence.
Set two went similarly to the first, with Kean jumping out in front early and going on several runs. NJCU trailed 23-14 before freshman outside hitter
Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J./Cresskill) began a 6-1 Gothic Knight run. Unfortunately, a service error gave Kean its 25th point and the victory in set two.
NJCU struck first in the third, with sophomore setter
Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) setting up fifth-year tri-captain middle blocker
Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J./Kearny). Both teams traded runs, with neither leading by more than three. NJCU found itself down 26-25, but another Casais to DaSilva connection tied up the set. Then, two Kean attacking errors gave the Gothic Knights the set three victory.
The Green and Gold had a 12-8 lead in set four, part of a 7-1 run, but were unable to stop Kean's attacks following that. The Gothic Knights and Cougars were evened up at 20 apiece before Kean scored five straight, taking set number four and the match victory.
Highlights:
- DaSilva led the team with 14 kills, while fifth-year tri-captain libero led NJCU in digs (10).
- Bajor had a game-high three service aces to go with eight kills, four digs and a block.
- Casaias led all players with a match-best 32 assists to go with nine digs and three blocks.
- Sophomore middle
Amaru Perales (Harrison, N.J./Harrison) led all players with a match-best four blocks, adding five kills, an ace and a dig.
- Pardasie, in his collegiate debut, had eight kills to go with nine digs, three blocks and two aces.
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights have over a week until their next match, where they remain on the road. The team will be in Dallas, Pa., for the Misericordia University Volleyball Tournament beginning on Friday, Feb. 2. NJCU will play two matches Friday, the first against Misericordia at 4:00 p.m., then versus Drew University at 8:00 p.m.
