JERSEY CITY, N.J. - On Sunday, March 30, the New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's volleyball team celebrated Senior Day in grand fashion, sweeping both Yeshiva and Sarah Lawrence in straight sets at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. The Gothic Knights showcased their dominance in both matches, while senior Damon LaSalle (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) made history, cementing his legacy in the program's record books.

Game One: NJCU vs. Yeshiva
The first match of the day saw NJCU (18-8, 13-2 Skyline) take on Yeshiva (1-23, 0-15 Skyline), and the Gothic Knights made quick work of the Maccabees, securing a 3-0 sweep. NJCU posted an impressive .534 hitting percentage (41-63), outclassing Yeshiva in kills (41-12), aces (12-0), blocks (5-2), assists (38-11), and digs (24-13). The standout performance came from senior Damon LaSalle (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), who etched his name in the program's history books by becoming the all-time leader in career blocks.

LaSalle surpassed the previous record of 428 blocks, set by Satsay Thongvichith, by recording two blocks in this match, bringing his career total to 429 blocks across 294 sets.
Offensively, Matt Peralta (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) led the way with 13 kills, hitting an outstanding .706 for the match, adding four digs, two assists, and a service ace. Justin Walker (Paterson, N.J./Paterson Charter) contributed with nine kills and a .727 hitting percentage, while Nasir Paige (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) chipped in eight kills and set season highs in both digs (4) and service aces (4). Faraz Bhatti (Union, N.J./Union) directed the offense with 21 assists, and Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) contributed 13 assists. Defensively, Johan Vaidyan (Piscataway, N.J./Saint Joseph) posted a game-high three blocks, while LaSalle added two blocks. Anthony Matute (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Charter) led the defense with five digs.

NJCU came out strong in the first set, opening with a 6-1 run that included two kills by Peralta and an ace from Paige. The Gothic Knights never looked back, maintaining control throughout the set and securing a 25-13 victory. In the second set, NJCU exploded with a 10-0 run, with contributions from multiple players. Despite a brief push from Yeshiva, who cut the deficit to 14-5, NJCU dominated and clinched the set 25-9. Paige led the charge in the second set with six kills. The final set followed a similar script, with NJCU racing out to a 10-1 lead and never letting up. The Gothic Knights completed the sweep with a 25-14 win, with Walker contributing six kills in the third set.

Game Two: NJCU vs. Sarah Lawrence
The second match of the day saw NJCU take on Sarah Lawrence (11-13, 6-10 Skyline), and the Gothic Knights extended their winning streak with another 3-0 sweep. NJCU finished the match with a .338 hitting percentage (38-77), while Sarah Lawrence hit just .173 (12-27). The Green and Gold outshone the Gryphons in kills (38-31), blocks (4-2), and assists (36-29). Sarah Lawrence, however, had the upper hand in digs, 23-22. Both teams tallied five blocks in total.

Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J./Cresskill) was the standout player for NJCU in this match, leading the team with 13 kills on a .500 hitting percentage. He also contributed three digs, two assists, two blocks, and a service ace. Peralta added another solid performance with 12 kills and five digs. Casais orchestrated the offense with 32 assists, adding two digs, a kill, and a service ace. LaSalle and Victor DeSouza each posted two block assists, with DeSouza also adding six kills and a service ace. Defensively, Matute registered nine digs, providing a steady presence in the back row.

The first set began with NJCU up 8-7, but the Gothic Knights quickly turned the tide with a 5-0 run, including four errors by the Gryphons. NJCU extended the lead and closed out the set 25-16, with Pardasie and Peralta combining for six kills. In the second set, NJCU took an early 8-2 lead and nearly extended it to double digits at 19-11. Sarah Lawrence mounted a comeback with a 5-1 run, cutting the deficit to 19-15, and later made it a 22-19 set. However, NJCU held firm and secured the 25-21 victory, with a key kill from Pardasie.

The third set was a much closer affair, with NJCU holding a slim 13-12 advantage. A series of errors by Sarah Lawrence and a kill by Peralta extended the lead to 16-13. The Gryphons refused to go quietly, cutting the deficit to 23-21 with a few strong plays. However, NJCU stayed composed, and despite a couple of errors, Peralta sealed the match with a kill from Casais, winning the set 25-23 and completing the sweep.

From Coach Carlo Edra:
"Being able to celebrate Damon's senior day was a long time coming and for him to break the total block reacord as well just seems like a movie. He deserves this, his family deserves this, the NJCU community deserves this. It's one heck of a story and I'm glad we're all along for the ride."

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights return to action tomorrow, March 31 as they host Old Westbury at 7:00 p.m.

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