New Jersey City University Athletics

WEEK of: OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 2, 2008

Sophomore NICOLE DREJERWSKI (Levittown, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic) replaced perhaps the most successful female athlete in a team sport in New Jersey City University history when she became the Gothic Knight's new anchor this season—a position that four-time All-American and two-time National Player of the Year Vicki Spratford occupied for four years from 2005-08—after spending her rookie campaign as a top reserve and part-time starter. Drejerwski was outstanding in her debut in the important role, and has been named the NJCU Women's Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career.

The Gothic Knights placed four players among the Top 20 in the individual standings in the 82-woman field at the season-opening "Fright Night Invite", led by Drejerwski, who placed seventh overall with a five-game pinfall of 1,058 (194-235-223-193-213) for 211.6 average.

Behind her, NJCU went 8-5 in NCAA matches during the three-day event—also tied for the third best record among 12 participating teams. In all, 11 of the 12 teams at the tournament were nationally ranked, including six of the top 10 teams in the country.

On November 1, on day two of the tournament, Drejerwski bowled a 194 as the Gothic Knights crushed #13 Adelphi University, 1037-923 before losing to #2 Vanderbilt, 1003-934 and dropping a 962-904 decision to unranked Morgan State University. She posted scores of 235 and 223 in those contest, as she tried to keep NJCU in the contests.

Drejerwski helped NJCU bounce back by defeating #1 ranked and defending national champion Maryland Eastern Shore, 980-963, tossing a 193. She hurled a 213 when NJCU crushed cross-city rival and #17 Saint Peter's College, 1002-804.

In the third-place match against Delaware State,  NJCU won 4-2 (170-199, 246-232, 225-207, 226-186, 179-182, 200-198). The Hornets had a chance to extend the series to seven games.  Drejerwski converted a spare in the 10^th frame of game six and after the Hornets’ anchor posted a six-count, Drejerwski fired a strike to seal the match.