New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

MADISON, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University won the first two sets but couldn't close out Arcadia University in a third set that saw 14 ties and six lead changes and Arcadia took advantage, storming from behind to outlast the Gothic Knights, 3-2 (24-26, 13-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11) in the second match of the Devils Quad, hosted by FDU-Florham on Friday afternoon at the Ferguson Rec Center.
 
NJCU (3-4) led 23-21 in the third set before the Arcadia Knights (2-5) scored the final four points of the period to extend the match. It was the first-ever meeting between the schools in women's volleyball.
 
In defeat, rookie middle hitter JADE MEDLEY (Newark, NJ/Hudson Catholic) reached double figures in kills for the first time, posting a career-best 11 kills (11-5-47, .128). Junior outside hitter KIARA MARTINEZ (Newark, NJ/East Side) added a team-high 19 digs and eight kills while rookie setter CINDY GARCIA (West New York, NJ/Memorial) notched her fourth double-double in her first seven collegiate matches, compiling 36 assists and 15 digs.
 
Defensively for NJCU, senior outside hitter #TABITHA JORDAN# (West New York, NJ/Memorial) finished with 12 digs and junior defensive specialist AMANDA DOPICO (West New York, NJ/Memorial) added 11 digs.
 
Arcadia got a huge effort from 6-foot-1 senior middle hitter Hailey Barger (Sitka, Alaska) who powered her team with 20 kills (20-5-43), and 349 attack percentage and two blocks. Sophomore middle Krista Hsu (Newark, DE) added 12 kills (12-8-39, .103) and 12 digs and junior setter Jessyca Stoler (Lansdale, PA) contributed a double-double with match-highs of 37 assists and 23 digs with two blocks.
 
The Knights received 18 digs and three aces from sophomore libero Veronika Bailey (Plato, MO) and 15 digs and seven kills by sophomore outside hitter Melissa D'Arcangelo (Brookefield, CT). Junior middle Delaney Dobson (Horsham, PA) had nine kills and two blocks.
 
NJCU and Arcadia battled back and forth in the opening set. There were eight ties and seven lead changes but early in the period, Arcadia appeared to have an insurmountable advantage at 19-11. Two kills by Medley made it a 20-14 deficit. But senior libero MICHELLE RAYO (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) would serve the next eight points and Arcadia made six consecutive errors as NJCU went on a 10-1 run to claim a 21-20 lead. A Barger kill put Arcadia back up, 22-21. A kill by junior right side BRITTANY EREZUMA (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) and a Jordan ace gave NJCU a 23-22 lead before Barger had a block rejection and a kill, giving the opposition a 24-23 margin. Martinez answered the challenge, racking up back-to-back winners for a 25-24 lead before the Gothic Knights took the opening set on a Barger attack error.
 
NJCU had a much easier time in the second set, winning 25-13 as the Knights hit .333 collectively with 10 kills (10-2-24) and only two errors while limiting Arcadia to a .036 percentage. NJCU jumped out to a 21-9 lead in the set.
 
The momentum in the match swung late in the third set. Tied at 21-21, NJCU gained a 23-21 cushion on Martinez winner and Arcadia error, and the Gothic Knights needed two more points for a sweep of the match. But after an Arcadia timeout, NJCU had a service and attack error and Stoler put the opponents up 24-23 with a kill. An attack error on set point allowed Arcadia to win the game, 25-23.
 
Arcadia had a 13-7 advantage in kills in the fourth set and built an early 12-4 margin before winning by seven points to force a decisive fifth period.
 
And in the final set, Arcadia vaulted out to an 11-2 lead, limiting NJCU to -.188 hitting (3-6-16). NJCU tried to claw back, and got within 12-7 and 14-11 late on a Medley solo block before a service error gave Arcadia match point.