JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's volleyball team delivered an impressive performance, sweeping Manhattanville in straight sets (25-16, 25-12, 25-16) on Tuesday, March 25, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

NJCU (16-8, 11-2 Skyline) was dominant across nearly every statistical category, showcasing their superior offense and defense. The Gothic Knights posted a remarkable .553 hitting percentage (47-76), far outpacing the Valiants' (11-13, 9-3 Skyline) .153 hitting percentage (28-92). NJCU also outscored Manhattanville in key areas, including kills (47-28), aces (4-2), blocks (7-1), assists (43-27), and digs (35-19).

Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J./Cresskill) was the standout player for NJCU, putting on an extraordinary performance with a .842 hitting percentage (16-19). This marked the highest hitting percentage by an outside hitter in the program's known history. Pardasie contributed 16 kills, eight digs, a service ace, and an assist, making a significant impact on both offense and defense.

Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) also had a stellar outing, notching 28 assists in the match. His performance allowed him to surpass former teammate Leo Ferrari in career assists (1,719), reaching a total of 1,745 assists and moving into sixth place in the program's history. Casais also added six digs, two service aces, and two block assists.

Johan Vaidyan (Piscataway, N.J./Saint Joseph) was another key contributor for the Gothic Knights, recording a season-high three blocks and two digs, along with two kills. Anthony Matute (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Charter) added nine digs and two assists, bolstering the team's defensive efforts.

For the Valiants, Kyle Simmons led the way with 10 kills, a dig, and a solo block. Mason Moon provided 25 assists and a service ace, while Joe Gandarillas helped on defense with six digs to go along with six kills and an assist.

The match began with both teams trading points early, but it was NJCU who found their rhythm first. Trailing 5-4 in set one, the Gothic Knights went on an 8-2 run, highlighted by a kill from Mike McGehee (Avondale, Ariz./Agua Fria), to take a 12-7 lead. Manhattanville briefly cut the deficit to 13-11, but NJCU responded with a dominant 8-1 run, including three kills from Victor DeSouza, to stretch their lead to 20-11. The Gothic Knights held off the Valiants' efforts to close the gap and took the first set comfortably, 25-16.

In set two, NJCU maintained complete control, never trailing as they cruised to a 25-12 victory. The Gothic Knights started strong with a 4-0 run, including two kills by McGehee. A Manhattanville attack error gave NJCU an 18-8 lead, and the Gothic Knights' offensive momentum continued. The Gothic Knights last six points were all kills by four different players. Pardasie and DeSouza led the charge, contributing seven and five digs, respectively.

The third set saw NJCU jump out to an early 14-4 lead, as five different players contributed kills. Despite Manhattanville's efforts to fight back, cutting the deficit to 17-7, NJCU remained in control. After trading points, the Gothic Knights reached match point at 24-12. Although the Valiants managed to mount a brief 4-0 run, cutting the deficit to 24-16, the match was soon sealed when Matt Peralta (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) set Nasir Paige (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) at the net for the match-winning kill, completing the sweep for NJCU.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights head to Brooklyn, N.Y. to take on St. Joseph's-Brooklyn in Skyline action on Thursday, March 27 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.