OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's volleyball team delivered an impressive performance, sweeping Old Westbury in straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-22) on Thursday, March 13.

The Gothic Knights (12-7, 7-1 Skyline) were exceptional across all facets of the game, outmatching the Panthers in nearly every statistical category. NJCU outpaced Old Westbury (4-11, 2-7 Skyline) 43-28 in kills, hitting at a solid .248 clip, while the Panthers struggled with a .120 hitting percentage. The Gothic Knights also showcased their depth and teamwork, leading in assists (41-28), service aces (10-2), digs (46-38), and block assists (10-6). Old Westbury did manage three solo blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J./Cresskill) was the standout player for NJCU, contributing a team-high 12 kills, six digs, and two service aces. Senior middle blocker Nate Aguilar (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) was another key contributor, tying his career-high with 10 kills, hitting an efficient .500, and adding two block assists and two digs. Junior setter Alex Casias orchestrated the offense with 34 assists, five digs, and three block assists, while freshman libero Erick Bacuilima (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) had a game-high 12 digs along with two service aces, both season-highs. Victor De Souza (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) and freshman Robert Ayllon (Jersey City, N.J./Union City) each had solid outings, with De Souza recording eight kills and three block assists, and Ayllon had a career-night with eight kills, seven digs, and three service aces.

On the opposing side, Old Westbury was led by Liam Eisel, who tallied a team-high nine kills along with nine digs and four assists. Ashel Santos also played a crucial role, distributing 20 assists and adding five digs. Defensive specialist Jose Lorenzo Santos chipped in with nine digs, and Shane Kield proved to be a strong presence at the net, collecting five total blocks.

The match began with a tightly contested first set. The Gothic Knights held a slight advantage, edging Old Westbury 25-23. De Souza led the set with six kills, while Aguilar added four. NJCU's serving game was on point, as they capitalized on four service aces, and their blocking game proved solid, as they out-blocked the Panthers 5-3.

The second set saw NJCU take control early. After a 3-3 tie, the Gothic Knights went on an 8-2 run, fueled by Bacuilima's service, to grab a 10-5 lead. Old Westbury responded with three consecutive points, cutting the deficit to 10-8, but NJCU refused to let up. They launched a decisive 6-0 run to extend their lead to 16-8. Although the Panthers mounted a brief rally late in the set, pulling within 23-17, NJCU finished strong, with kills from Robert Ayllon (Jersey City, N.J./Union City) and Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J./Cresskill) securing the 25-17 victory. Pardasie led the set with six kills, and Ayllon added five of his own. NJCU dominated the Panthers in kills (14-6) and picked up three service aces in the set.

The third set began with both teams trading points, and with the score tied at 14, NJCU turned on the afterburners. The Gothic Knights went on an 8-3 run to take their largest lead of the set, 22-17. Old Westbury refused to go down quietly, however, as they mounted a late comeback. The Panthers scored three straight points to cut the deficit to 24-22, after regrouping from a timeout. Aguilar came through with a successful attack to secure the match victory for NJCU, completing the sweep with a 25-22 win. In this final set, the Gothic Knights outscored the Panthers 16-9 in kills and added three service aces.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights will look to continue their winning ways as they return to action on Monday, March 17, when they host Purchase at 7:00 p.m.

For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University sports, visit njcugothicknights.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Gothic Knights news by following NJCU Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.