By Edgar Rivas, Jr.—

An in-depth look at the Men’s Volleyball teams’ success all-time against Polytechnic Institute of NYU

It’s something you don’t hear about often in NJCU Athletics – one of our teams is unbeaten all-time against an opponent. On March 4, the Men’s Volleyball team defeated Polytechnic Institute of NYU and improved to 25-0 all-time against them. They won all three games: 25-10, 25-16, 25-17.

The Gothic Knights and NYU-Poly have played against each other over the years, with the Fighting Blue Jays appearing on the schedule in seven of the past eight seasons.

Polytechnic Institute of NYU is in its first season in the Skyline Conference, head coached by Kevin Edwards, his first year at the helm. They ended the season on a five-game winning streak and a .500 record of 14-14, their best since the program’s beginning. Located in Brooklyn, NY, NYU-Poly athletics began in 1904.

Head coach Kevin Rodgers can remember playing against NYU-Poly during his playing days for the Gothic Knights as an outside/middle hitter (2006-09).

“During my years, we’ve played them a minimum of once a year,” said Rodgers. “We’ve always had that extra edge over them.”

Outside Hitter Kenny Lisk, 21, Chemistry/Secondary Education, from Old Bridge has experience facing NYU-Poly in three of his four years (2009, 2010, and 2012).

“[The Gothic Knights] have been on a higher level than [NYU-Poly],” said Lisk.

Setter/Opposite Justin Beaumont, 24, Criminal Justice and Sociology minor, from Bayonne also has experience facing NYU-Poly. He played them in 2008, 2009, and 2012.

“They’re relatively a new program [and] don’t have as much experience as NJCU does,” said Beaumont.

The key factors to the Gothic Knights’ success against the Fighting Blue Jays over the years have been tradition and talent.

“[We’ve always had a] different tradition [than them],” said Rodgers. “They don’t have the same talent as we do.”

“Volleyball isn’t important to them as it is to us,” said Lisk. “They’re volleyball program is still growing.”

“We’ve beaten them with talent and experience,” said Beaumont.

Dominance in NJCU Athletics is a big thing.

“It’s kind of like saying ‘Alright, we have never lost to them, so I don’t want to lose,’” said Lisk.

“It is a big deal in a sense because it shows our consistency,” said Rodgers.