BROOKLYN – Pratt Institute men's volleyball dropped its home opener Thursday night, falling to New Jersey City University 3-0 (10-25, 12-25, 23-25).
Senior Ari Grant led the Cannoneers with four kills and a .375 attack percentage, and freshman Dean Liaw also threw down four kills.
A Gothic Knights attack error reduced the team's early lead to 6-4 in the first set, but a 7-0 NJCU run capped by a Jimmy Vega ace distanced the visitors at 18-7 in the team's 25-10 win.
Grant's kill pulled Pratt to within 7-5 in Game 2, before back-to-back Julian Moreira kills crowned a 10-2 Gothic Knights run in the team's 25-12 victory.
A Haven Gordon kill on a pass from David Cutler brought the Cannoneers with within three at 8-5 in Game 3. Liaw later tied the set at 12-12 with a kill on a feed from Cutler, but a 7-1 NJCU run closed by consecutive Christian Ramirez kills distanced the visitors at 22-14.
Grant's service ace as part of a 3-0 Pratt run pulled the hosts to within two at 25-23, but a Jonathan Andrews kill on a pass from Vega closed out the match, with the Gothic Knights taking Game 3, 25-23.
Vega dished out a match-high 25 set assists, while Moriera led all players with nine kills as NJCU improved to 3-8.
At 3-2, the Cannoneers travel to Cooper Union at 2:00 on Saturday.
