PURCHASE, N.Y. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team had 12 players see the court on Tuesday night, March 19, as the Gothic Knights swept Skyline Conference foe Purchase College in three sets (25-16, 25-13, 25-15) on the road. NJCU got strong performances from graduate student co-captain opposite
James Bajor (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) and sophomore middle blocker
Amaru Perales (Harrison, N.J./Harrison), among others, as the squad has now won 10 in a row. The Green and Gold are closing in on the program record for consecutive victories, which stands at 14 in a row set back in 1997.
Purchase (11-9, 6-3 Skyline) got out to a strong start in the first set and led NJCU (13-8, 10-0 Skyline) 4-1 early on. The Gothic Knights quickly tied it up, thanks in part to a couple of kills for Bajor. The teams traded points until NJCU trailed 8-7 and then went on an 11-3 run to go up 18-11 — Bajor had two more kills and two aces over that stretch. The Panthers cut that lead down by one to six points at 21-15, but it was the Gothic Knights that won four of the final five points to take the set. Bajor had six kills on eight swings with no errors (.750 hitting percentage) in that set to go with two aces, while Perales was a perfect 4-for-4 at the net.
The second saw the Green and Gold jump out to a 7-2 lead, including three kills from freshman outside hitter
Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J./Cresskill). Leading 9-5, NJCU went on another 7-2 run to take a 16-7 lead, including two kills and a block from Bajor and a kill and a block from fifth-year co-captain middle blocker
Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J./Kearny). Leading by nine once again at 19-10, NJCU closed out the set 25-12 to go up 2-0. Pardasie had six kills and one error on seven swings (.714), while Bajor had six more, as well, on seven swings without an error (.857), adding a couple of blocks and an ace.
The Panthers looked strong to begin the third as the home squad jumped out to an 8-3 advantage. However, it was all NJCU for the remainder of the set as the visitors outscored Purchase 22-7 until the final whistle blew for the Gothic Knights' 3-0 victory. Junior middle blocker
Nate Aguilar (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) had five kills and one error on six swings (.667), while sophomore outside hitter
Victor De Souza (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) notched four kills and one error on eight swings (.375).
Highlights:
- Bajor led all players with 12 kills and no errors on 15 swings (.800) over two sets played, adding a match-high-tying three aces and two blocks. He has now had double-digit kills in three straight.
- Pardasie notched 11 kills and two errors on 17 swings (.529) to go with three digs and two aces.
- Perales was efficient, finishing with nine kills and one error on 11 swings (.727). He also had three digs and a block.
- Sophomore setter
Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) dished out a match-best 24 assists (12.0/set) to go with a couple of digs. He now has 9.30 assists/set, which is second in both the Skyline and New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
- Reigning Skyline Libero of the Week, fifth-year co-captain
Nico Figueroa (Jersey City, N.J./County Prep) led all players with five digs and added three assists.
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to Purchase this Thursday night, March 21, for a Skyline tilt on the other end of Anderson Hill Road against Manhattanville College, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
