Cardinals Fall in Three Sets to NJCU
Box Score
JAMAICA, NY— The York College men's volleyball team fell in three sets to New Jersey City University Friday evening, losing by a score of 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-22). Though the game was won in straight sets, it was much closer than the score indicated as each set was tightly contested.
The first set was the most entertaining of the match. It was a see-saw battle for the entire set with each team continually exchanging points. Consecutive kills by York's Ahmed Helmi gave the Cardinals a set point (24-23) but NJCU fought off the point and then another set point after a kill by Maximo Bonilla. The Gothic Knight's Michal Kuscza then finished the set off with two straight kills.
In the second set, the Gothic Knights jumped out to a 15-9 lead and were able to fight off a York rally after the Cardinals cut the lead to three points (22-19) following a kill by Tobi Awopetu. NJCU scored the next three points to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
In the final set, NJCU once again jumped out to a six-point advantage, leading 20-14. York once again rallied thanks to a couple miscues by the Gothic Knights and cut the score to 24-22. However a service error by York closed out the set and clinched the win for NJCU.
Despite the loss, Helmi led all players with 12 kills and seven digs, while also blocking two shots and recording two aces. Alex Niles added seven kills and two blocks and Terrence Sutton finished with five kills. Kucza led NJCU with nine kills, followed by Rich Boyle with eight. Jorge Rodriguez had 24 assists at the setter position.
NJCU improves to 3-2 with the win, while York drops to 5-3. The Cardinals will have a quick turnaround. They will play both City Tech and Baruch in a multi-match Saturday morning at Hunter College. The City Tech match begins at 10:00 a.m. and Baruch starts at 2:00 p.m.
