BRONX, NY…New Jersey City University freshman middle blocker LIZZELLE CINTRON (Newark, NJ/Elizabeth), the NCAA Division III leader in kills per game by a staggering margin, lit up Lehman College for 28 kills—a school record for a three-game match—as the Gothic Knights extended their school-record winning streak to 11 straight by sweeping the Lightning, 30-22, 30-26, 30-22, at the APEX on Thursday evening.
NJCU improves to 21-5 overall, and needs just five more victories to tie the program record of 26 achieved in 1997. Lehman falls below .500 with the loss (11-12). NJCU leads the all-time series which began in 1985, 13-8.
NJCU has not lost since dropping a 3-1 decision to Rowan University in the Hunter College Tournament championship match on October 2, and have recorded 3-0 sweeps in 10 of the 11 consecutive wins.
Cintron now has a single-season record 559 kills this season in 26 matches. Her 28 kills breaks the program record for kills in a three-game long match. Current assistant coach Cara Strzelczyk had established the record in 2002 at 25 kills before Cintron tied it twice in the first week of the season. Overall, she had a line of 28-6-56 to hit .393, and added nine digs, three blocks and three aces.
Freshman setter NADIA DaSILVA (Newark, NJ/Science) cashed in 49 assists while quarterbacking the offense, and landed three aces.
Freshman middle hitter MEAGAN ROBERTS (Union, NJ/Union) had 10 kills (10-5-19) for a .263 clip. Senior outside hitter CHRISTINA COCUCCI (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) and junior opposite JOANNA MIEDZWIEDZ (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) each defended 16 digs, and Cocucci also increased her team-leading ace count by serving four in the match.
Freshman outside hitter GLORINELL PEREZ (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) and sophomore outside hitter JENNA GADINO (West New York, NJ/Memorial) combined for 22 digs.
NJCU looks to extend its winning streak to 13 on Saturday, October 23 at 10 am when it hosts Medgar Evers College and Keystone College as part of a tri-match at the Athletic and Fitness Center.
