JERSEY CITY, NJ – Sage men's volleyball traveled to NJCU for a key Skyline tri-match Saturday afternoon. The Gators took the first match from Sarah Lawrence 3-0 (25-6, 25-9, 25-16) and the second match from NJCU 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-17).
Freshman Jarod Martel (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) led Sage (14-12, 4-2 Skyline) against the Gryphons with 13.5 points with a .769 hitting percentage. Setter Austin Laverty (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) led the match with 28 assists. Leading Sage on defense were Jared Almy (Howes Cave, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) with seven digs while Laverty and Shane Wenz (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) had two blocks apiece.
Sarah Lawrence (0-18, 0-7 Skyline) was led by Callan Moor with 8.5 points and Isaac Gamboa with 13 assists. On the defensive end, the Gryphons were led by Marris Silcott with seven digs while BJ Sanders had two blocks.
In the second match with NJCU (11-14, 3-3 Skyline), Bailey Cecchi (Agawam, MA/Agawam) scored a match high 17.5 points with 14 kills, two aces and two blocks. Junior Ryan Guyton (Lockport, NY/Lockport) had the best hitting percentage with a .467, and the outside hitter was one kill away from a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs. Laverty led the Gators with 36 assists while Wenz, Chris MacArthur (Ancram, NY/Taconic Hills) and Tyler Schnaible (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) all had- two blocks apiece.
The Gothic Knights were led by Julian Moreira with 11.5 points on ten kills and one ace. Setter Jimmy Vega recorded 23 assists. On defense, David Penaherrera had eight digs while Jonathan Andrews and J.J. Berdecia both had three blocks.
After Sage took the first set 25-14, the second went back-and-forth, forcing a 22-22 tie. Sage scored three answered points to win the set and take a 2-0 lead. In the third set, Sage jumped out to a 20-12 lead. The Gothic Knights responded with a 3-1 run to cut the lead back down to 21-15. The Gators responded with a 4-2 run to take the set 25-17.
After today's tri-match, Sage sits fourth in the Skyline. Kean and Ramapo are currently tied for first with 5-1 records while Mount Saint Vincent sits at third with a 4-1 record. Below Sage in the table are St. Joseph's – Long Island and Purchase with records of 3-2 and 4-3, respectively.
The Gators continue their road trip tomorrow at Kean for a tri-match with Arcadia. Their first match with Kean is set to begin at noon with the second one with Arcadia to follow at 2 p.m.
