Jersey City, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's volleyball team earned their fourth win in a row over Skyline Conference opponent St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn on Tuesday, March 3, and remain undefeated in conference play. The Gothic Knights did not drop a set tonight, and have not lost one since falling to #14 New York University on Feb 27. Reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and Skyline Rookie of the Week
Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J., Cresskill) continued what has been an electric start to his career in the Green and Gold. He finished with a match-high nine kills on a .500 hitting percentage, as well as a career-high eight service aces, making him responsible for 17 of NJCU's 47 earned points in the victory.
The Bears (2-7, 1-2 Skyline) took the first point of the night over the Gothic Knights (7-8, 4-0 Skyline). Pardasie earned the next two points of the set that would start a 14-3 run to take a commanding double-digit advantage in the first. Sophomore setter
Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J., Bayonne), notched five of his match-high 20 assists on the run, and leads the conference in that category (381) following tonight's win. NJCU did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the set, and held St. Joe's to just seven points in game one.
Similarly to the first, the second began with the Bears earning the first two points of the game. The Gothic Knights responded by scoring 14 unanswered, with
Brandon DaSilva (Kearny, N.J., Kearny) earning the Green and Gold's first point of the set from another Casais delivery. Pardasie was instrumental in orchestrating the change in momentum, as he recorded four service aces and two kills in the run. NJCU held the Bears to another set under double-digits, taking the second 25-8.
With NJCU looking for their fourth consecutive sweep, they jumped out to a 12-3 lead to begin the third, a run which saw sophomore middle blocker
Amaru Perales (Harrison, N.J., Harrison) notch two service aces and two kills on the run. The Bears would score their highest set point total of the night in the third, but it would not be enough to avoid the sweep. Pardasie and freshman setter
Faraz Bhatti (Union, N.J., Union) were key in closing out the match, as they would be responsible for eight of the Green and Gold's final 13 points of the night, with the former recording two more service aces, and the latter notching six assists.
Highlights:
-NJCU totaled 34 kills on a combined .400 hitting percentage as a team. Three Gothic Knights finished with 6+ kills, including Pardasie (9), DaSilva (6), and junior middle blocker
Nate Aguilar (Kearny, N.J., Kearny) (6).
-The Gothic Knights recorded three blocks tonight, with DaSilva, the Skyline leader in blocks (46) assisting on each, and senior outside
Mahmoud Serour (Kearny, N.J., Kearny) assisting two and senior opposite
Kenneth Gil (North Bergen, N.J., North Bergen) assisting the other.
-Pardasie, who just earned his second consecutive Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week award and fifth consecutive NJAC Rooke of the Week honors, is hitting a .282 percentage in his rookie season, ranking him third in the conference through 15 games. In 48 sets played, he leads NJCU with 143 Kills, putting him second in the Skyline in that category. Pardasie also leads the Gothic Knights in points (173.5) and service aces (23), and he ranks third-best in each of those categories.
Up Next:
NJCU will look to remain undefeated in conference play as they will host another Skyline Conference opponent in the University of Mount Saint Vincent on Thursday, March 7. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC).
