City College lost 3-2 to John Jay at the Doghouse. The Beavers are now ranked fourth, 10-5.
New York, NY-The City College men’s volleyball team lay on the gym floor at John Jay, exhausted. CCNY had just lost a five-set marathon to the Bloodhounds after winning the first two sets. The 3-2 loss (25-16, 25-22, 12-25, 18-25, 13-15) was the second time in two matches that the Beavers were defeated by John Jay.
City College had only played beyond three sets on one occasion this season, in a game against Bard College in February-where they won 3-1. John Jay, however, has had three other games go past three sets. This is the first game in which City has had to play beyond four sets, and according to junior Jeffrey Celis, who led the team with 22 digs, that may have been the issue. “We came in with a lot of energy. Comfortably won the first two sets. Perhaps we were a little complacent in the third and fourth, and the fifth, we tried our best to come back,” he said. “Ultimately, we lost because of our energy, but our energy stamina-wise, not on the court.”
With this defeat, the Bloodhounds earned the season sweep over City College, who faced their second straight loss after a straight-set defeat against Hunter College this past Tuesday. City College is ranked fourth with a 10-5 overall record and 5-5 mark in the CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).
CCNY won the first two sets, but fell in the third set 25-12, forcing the game into a fourth set which John Jay won 25-18, tying the match 2-2. After John Jay pulled ahead 7-3 in the deciding set, CCNY called a timeout. The Beavers returned with a new mentality and tied the set at 12-12, filling the gym with a chorus of “let’s go City” chants and prompting a timeout from John Jay. The Bloodhounds recovered and captured the set 15-13, picking up their third straight win.
During their first encounter against the Bloodhounds in February, the Beavers lost 3-0. Going into this game, Interim Head Coach Vaughn Ford had some strategy adjustments. “Just figuring out the rotation to figure out who goes where,” he said. “Number 12 (Logan Ramos), he showed out today. We kind of prepared for him going on the outside. Just adjusting.”
Freshman Ricky Li led the team with 16 kills, while freshman David Reyes Galvez had 32 assists. In the last game against John Jay, Celis and freshman Angel Gabriel Chabla each recorded eight digs, making them both targets for trash talk from John Jay’s sideline.
“This guy is 30 years old” was directed at Celis and “#1 shops at baby Gap” was directed at 5 ‘3” Chabla from the Bloodhounds bench.
“I’ve heard worse,” Chabla laughed. “At 5 ‘3″, I’m probably the shortest player in the whole CUNYAC. I was gonna say something, but I tried keeping it in. It really doesn’t bother me. I love all the hate.”
The Beavers will face off against Baruch College next Tuesday at the Nat Holman Gymnasium. Looking forward, Coach Ford believes the team knows their mistakes and what they need to do for next week.
“We’re competing against these top three teams,” he said. “We fight back. Be better than yesterday. We can use this loss and try to build on it.”
Series: Sports
