Championship Central (follow this link throughout the week for updated results, bracket, schedule, ...)
PATCHOGUE, N.Y. I A dream ending for a perfect season.
One that was forecast all along.
Add another trophy to the case at St. Joseph's-Long Island. The prognosticators called for a four-peat by the Golden Eagles in men's volleyball at the start of the season in the preseason coaches' poll, and that's exactly what Bill Kropp and his top-seeded squad delivered Saturday at home. Not only did his team defeat No. 2 New Jersey City University, 3-1, but the Golden Eagles did it in style, completing an unblemished showing in conference play to punch their ticket to the NCAAs.
The Golden Eagles improved to 22-8 overall in the win at the Danzi Center. NJCU ends it's final season in the league at 22-9.
Junior Luke MacPherson (below with Commissioner Melissa Reilly) finished with a team-best 20 kills with a .447 hitting percentage while adding seven digs, a match-best three aces, and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Senior Logan Meyer added 12 kills while hitting at a .423 clip. Middle Hank Foglia knocked down 11 kills and put up three blocks, with middle AJ Esposito converting six kills on eight attempts and providing four blocks. Setter Will Kropp recorded 49 assists and added seven digs. Libero Connor Ruais picked up a match-best 11 digs.
Marcus Pardasie of NJCU recorded a match-high 22 kills and finished with seven digs.
The Golden Eagles led 13-9 in set one, but five unanswered points in favor of the Gothic Knights swung the advantage in their favor, 14-13, prompting St. Joseph's to take their first timeout. The teams exchanged points out the break, but a couple of NJCU attack errors put SJLI ahead 24-22. A kill from NJCU's Matt Peralta inched the visitors to within one, but then he hit into the net on the next rally, giving the Golden Eagles a 25-23 win. MacPherson and Foglia finished with four kills apiece.
Set two started close with the teams deadlocked at 12. However, a kill from Epostilto sparked a 4-1 run, 16-12, causing NJCU to take a timeout. Back-to-back aces from MacPherson, a kill from Meyer, and another ace put the Golden Eagles ahead 20-13, forcing head coach Carlo Edra to make some changes, sending three substitutions into the game. NJCU's new lineup did not fare much better as the Golden Eagles outscored the Gothic Knights 5-2 down the stretch to secure the 25-15 win and a 2-0 match lead. Meyer led all players with five kills with Esposito and MacPherson pitching in with four.
The Gothic Knights led set three wire to wire jumping out to a quick 5-1 lead. They kept a safe distance through most of the frame, with an ace from Pardasie putting them ahead 21-16. St. Joseph's chipped away, inching to within two on a few occasions, but NJCU stayed alive with a 25-22 win. MacPherson knocked down nine kills on 11 tries.
Set four started as a back-and-forth affair, seeing nine tied scores and five lead changes. Tied at nine, three straight points went in favor of the Golden Eagles, kicking off a 12-4 run that put the hosts ahead 20-13. Later in the set, back-to-back kills from Pardasie brought NJCU to within three, 21-18, but St. Joseph's held on for a 25-19 set win to secure its fourth straight championship title.
As a team, St. Joseph's-LI hit .370 while NJCU finished at .21.
The Golden Eagles finished with 40 digs and seven total blocks with the Gothic Knights recording 37 digs and eight total blocks.
The Golden Eagles advance to the NCAA Div. III Regional Tournament and will learn their opponent during the selection show scheduled for Monday, April 14th at 10 a.m.
-With St. Joseph's-Long Island Sports Information