New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES
SENIOR KNIGHT PHOTO GALLERY

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University came roaring out of the gates in the opening set, riding high following its annual Senior Knight celebration, but Rowan University rebounding by claiming the final three games and posted a 3-1 victory (14-25, 25-10, 25-14, 25-19) in the final New Jersey Athletic Conference match of the 2011 regular season for both schools on Thursday night on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court' at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
 
Rowan improved to 13-14 and at 5-2 in the NJAC and will be the No. 3 seed in the NJAC Tournament beginning with the quarterfinals on Tuesday, November 1 when the Profs host the No. 6 seed, William Paterson University. Rowan leads the all-time series, 24-3. NJCU fall to 7-19 and 0-7 in the NJAC and has its two-match winning streak snapped.
 
Prior to the match, NJCU honored its three-woman senior class: libero AMANDA DOPICO (West New York, NJ/Memorial), outside hitter and two-year co-captain TABITHA JORDAN (West New York, NJ/Memorial) and libero/defensive specialist/outside hitter MICHELLE RAYO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep).
 
Rookie middle blocker JADE MEDLEY (Newark, NJ/Hudson Catholic) floored a match-high 12 kills and hit .200 (12-4-40) while reaching double figures in kills for the eighth time this season and the second match in a row.
 
Rowan was led by the all-around play of sophomore middle/outside hitter Elaina Hansen (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) who hit .333 with eight kills and one error (21 attempts) and totaled a match high five blocks.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Krissy Collins (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) matched Medley with a match-high 12 kills (12-7-38, .132) and sophomore right side Dakota Oeskovic (Pine Beach, NJ/Toms River South) added 11 kills (11-6-25, .200). Sophomore libero Lauren Ruffalo (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) provided a match-best 20 digs.
 
Also for the Profs, sophomore setter Kelsey Donovan (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) delivered a double-double with 29 assists and 11 digs, sophomore defensive specialist Casey Grasso (Wilmington, DE/Alexis I. duPont) finished with 11 digs and freshman outside hitter Sarah Hanrahan (Montvale, NJ/Pascack Hills) put away seven kills (7-3-28, .143).
 
Dopico had a solid Senior Knight effort, dishing 18 digs. Jordan and junior outside hitter KIARA MARTINEZ (Newark, NJ/East Side) each collected 14 digs and two service aces and rookie setter CINDY GARCIA (West New York, NJ/Memorial) chalked up her 12 double-double of the season with 22 assists and 11 digs. Rayo had five digs.
 
After the brief Senior ceremony, NJCU came out on fire, hitting .179 in the opening set (9-4-28) and never trailed, while limiting Rowan to -.062 attacking with eight kills and 10 errors. Tied 5-5, NJCU reeled off seven of the next eight points, and seized a 12-6 lead on a solo block by rookie middle hitter INDIGO HATCHER (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln). A rare front row, no-net contact ace by Martinez made it 15-8 and a smash by Jordan increased the margin to 19-11. Rowan drew within 19-14 before NJCU scored the final six points of the set, including an ace by Jordan, and won the set convincingly, 25-14.
 
Rowan rebounded in the second period, hitting .226 with 11 kills while limiting the Knights to a -.143 accuracy rate (4-9-35). With NJCU up by one early, Collins tied it with a kill, and then served back-to-back aces and three in all during a stretch of nine straight serves that helped the visitors gain a 13-5, which swelled to 17-8.  Up 19-9, Rowan scored five in a row for a 24-9 lead as Collins and Hanrahan each had one block and one kill during the spurt. A Collins kill clinched the set, 25-10 to even the match at 1-1 and Collins hit .429 in the period with four kills (4-1-7).
 
Rowan was again strong in set three, winning 25-14, via a stellar .370 attack percentage on 12 kills and only two errors. The Knights were held to five kills and hit -.061 in the period. Rowan jumped out to a 21-11 and 24-12 lead, and never trailed nor was tied in the game. Hansen hit .571 with four kills (4-0-7) and two blocks in the set. Medley had three of NJCU's five kills in the period.
 
In the fourth set, Rowan held a 14-9 advantage in kills and Collins landed six winners; Medley had four for the Knights. The period was tight, with the Profs ahead 12-11 and 14-12 before three NJCU errors allowed the visitors to move in front, 19-13. A pair of aces by senior defensive specialist Sarah Betancourt (Harrington Park, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) made it 23-15. The Knights held off three match points and pulled within 24-19 before a kill by Hanrahan at the end of a long rally clinched it.
 
NJCU will conclude the 2011 season on Friday, October 28 at 7 p.m. in a non-conference match vs. St. Joseph's College (NY) in Patchogue, NY. Rowan hosts a tri-match on Saturday, October 29 at 11 a.m. with Gwynedd-Mercy College and Stevenson University.