New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE (at Baruch)
BOX SCORE (vs. Messiah)

NEW YORK, NY…New Jersey City University defeated Baruch College in four sets before falling in three to Messiah College as part of a tri-match played Friday night at Baruch's ARC Arena. NJCU defeated Baruch, 3-1, rallying from a 1-0 deficit to down the Bearcats, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20. The Falcons swept NJCU in the second match, 25-23, 25-20, 25-14.

With the pair of victories, NJCU's record falls to 11-6 overall. Baruch was 10-14 after the loss to NJCU, while Messiah improved to 12-5 after sweeping the Knights.

Senior outside hitter JACQUELINE LeBLANC (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) smashed 16 kills while senior outside hitter JENNIFER CARVALHO (Rahway, NJ/Rahway) landed 15 kills as the Knights collected 49 as a team. NJCU has won the last two meetings with Baruch; the Bearcats lead the series, 3-2.

LeBlanc had a line of 16-8-41 (.195), adding nine digs and three service aces. Carvalho hit .250 (15-6-36). Senior middle blocker SARAH TORRES (Elizabeth, NJ/Science) had eight kills and four solo blocks while junior middle blocker JENNIFER HATCH (Paterson, NJ/Mary Help of Christians Academy) floored eight kills with two blocks.

Sophomore setter #ALEX JOHANESEN# (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) delivered 43 assists, eight digs and two aces.

Senior libero LYANELLY NEGRON (Union, NJ/Union) defended a match-best 19 digs while sophomore opposite THERESA CARVALHO (Rahway, NJ/Rahway) chipped in 11 digs and two aces.

In defeat, senior outside hitter Nicole Baruffaldi (Ossining, NY/Ossining) hit .324 with 16 kills (16-4-37) 15 digs and two aces. Sophomore setter Kristin Walker (Fayetteville, AR/Fayetteville) dished 30 assists, landed seven of the Bearcats' 12 aces, while adding seven digs, five kills and a .444 percentage. Senior middle blocker Staren Soanes (Dominica, West Indies/Norman Thomas) and junior outside hitter Mayra Estepan (Jackson Heights, NY/Francis Lewis) each had 10 kills. Senior libero Lizmarie Vasquez (Bronx, NY/Lehman) tallied 11 digs.

In the first set, Baruch built a 10-2 lead and never trailed, although NJCU cut the deficit to 19-18 and 22-20, before committing three straight errors to end the frame.

Up 16-15 in set two, Baruch committed two errors, and LeBlanc and JENNIFER CARVALHO combined for two kills for a 20-15 edge. Three kills by Baruffaldi made it 24-21, before NJCU won 25-23.

The Knights never trailed in the third set. A late rally by Baruch made it 23-22 off an ace from Baruffaldi. But JENNIFER CARVALHO spiked back a 24-22 lead, and the Knights sealed the game on a Baruch attack error.

NJCU pounded 17 kills in the fourth set alone, vaulting out to an 11-3 lead and Baruch never came closer than three the remainder of the frame.

In the second-ever meeting between the schools (series tied, 1-1), the Falcons received a .370 percentage and 11 kills (11-1-27) from senior outside hitter Amy Mattie (San Ignacio, Bolivia/Montoursville School). Senior libero Meghan Morrissey (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) had 19 digs to stifle the NJCU attack, as the Gothic Knights hit .055 (27-21-109).

Freshman outside hitter Cassy Diamond (Peoria, AZ/Northwest Christian) provided eight kills and senior opposite Leslie Heffner (Leola, PA/University of Pittsburgh) had seven kills and junior middle hitter Samantha Bradley (Fayetteville, PA/Chambersburg, PA) hit .385 with five kills (5-0-13) and three blocks.

JENNIFER CARVALHO paced the Knights with eight kills (8-4-28, .143), while LeBlanc also chipped in eight kills. Johanesen finished with 21 assists and five digs.

THERESA CARVALHO tallied 14 digs and two aces. Hatch collected five kills and hit .211 (5-1-19). Freshman outside hitter #TABITHA JORDAN# (Bayonne, NJ/Memorial) finished with 10 digs.

The Falcons held a 20-15 lead in a back-and-forth first set before consecutive kills by LeBlanc capped an 8-3 run to tie the game at 23-23. But NJCU committed back-to-back attack errors, as Messiah escaped with the 25-23 win.

In the set second, NJCU closed within 19-17 after consecutive spikes fell by JENNIFER CARVALHO. But Messiah scored six of the final nine points, aided by four NJCU errors. 

The Falcons owned a 15-12 lead in the final game before a 10-2 run seized the set. Mattie had four kills during the spurt, including two straight to close the contest.

NJCU will be back in action on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Ramapo College in a key New Jersey Athletic Conference women's volleyball match at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.