JERSEY CITY, NJ… Freshman middle blocker LIZZELLE CINTRON (Newark, NJ/Elizabeth) notched 24 kills, 23 digs, and four blocks and freshman middle blocker MEAGAN ROBERTS (Union, NJ/Union) added nine kills and three blocks as New Jersey City University had no problems with the City College of New York, ending the Beavers eight-match winning streak, with a 3-0 sweep, by scores of 30-18, 30-24, 31-29.
One night after one of the greatest comebacks in school history, NJCU was riding the momentum from that win, and never lost focus, despite playing a team that had not been defeated since September 11. NJCU improved to 12-5 overall and 3-0 at home with its second straight win, while CCNY dropped to 10-3. CCNY leads the long-time series, 13-11.
In what was billed as a battle of two of the top three offensive hitters in Division III, Cintron, the NCAA Division III leader in kills per game was dominant, while CCNY senior outside hitter Erja Vettenranta (Manhattan, NY/Jurva, Finland), who entered the game ranked third in the nation in kills per game, struggled.
Cintron averaged 8.0 kills per game for the match, and hit an astounding .512, adding two aces to her other totals. Vettenranta had only seven kills, and made seven errors in 46 swings (.000).
Also for NJCU, freshman setter NADIA DaSILVA (Newark, NJ/Science) delivered 37 assists, and had three aces, while freshman outside hitter GLORINELL PEREZ (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) defended 23 digs and had seven kills.
Junior JOANNA MIEDZWIEDZ (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) again filled in at opposite, and hustled to supply 20 digs in a solid defensive showing. Senior outside hitter CHRISTINA COCUCCI (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) was the fourth NJCU starter in double figures on defense with 16 digs.
With Vettenranta struggling, CCNY was led by sophomore opposite Jacqueline Peralta (Manhattan, NY/Louis Brandeis) with 12 kills (12-7-37) and nine digs. Senior outside hitter Catherine Martinez (Bronx, NY/DeWitt Clinton) dished 18 digs and had six kills (6-3-22). Senior middle blocker Angelin Frias (Manhattan, NY/Evander Childs) had five solo blocks, but committed six blocking errors.
Sophomore setter Viviana Cifuentes (Queens, NY/Newcomers) totaled 26 assists and 15 digs.
NJCU went ahead 20-9 in the first game and never looked back. The second game was tighter, with NJCU leading 26-23. However, sophomore defensive specialist JENNA GADINO (West New York, NJ/Memorial) landed an ace to make it 27-23, and the Knights ran off three of the next four points to win game two, 30-24.
In game three, NJCU led 25-24, before the two clubs traded several points and possessions.
Roberts had two kills over the span, and made it 28-26, but CCNY tied it at 28-28 on an ace by Martinez. A Cintron kill made it 29-28 and match point, before Vettenranta, who had four kills in the third game, tied it at 29-29. However, Cintron sealed the match with a dump for a kill followed by a solo block and NJCU pulled out the third game, 31-29.
NJCU is back in action with its third WIAC tri-match this Saturday, October 9, when the Knights face Rutgers University-Camden (10 am) and Farmingdale State University (12 pm) in neutral site matches at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.
