New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

KINGS POINT, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com)...Sophomore libero CINDY GARCIA (West New York, NJ/Memorial) defended 18 digs but the United States Merchant Marine Academy only trailed twice and handed New Jersey City University a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-14) setback in a non-conference match played on October 16 at O'Hara Hall.
 
In the first meeting between the schools in seven years—last meeting on October 6, 2005—the Gothic Knights (7-16) had their two-match win streak snapped. USMMA (12-13) snapped a three-match skid with the win. The all-time series is even, 7-7.
 
Garcia's 18 digs were her 14^th double-digit effort of the season and 27^th of her career. Sophomore libero Michelle Danhof (San Antonio, TX) posted a match-high 24 digs for the Mariners.
 
In defeat, sophomore outside hitter JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) had seven kills and hit .107 (7-4-28) while sophomore outside hitter MARISSA SCARPA (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) tallied eight digs and six kills. Senior setter KIARA MARTINEZ (Newark, NJ/East Side) tallied 18 assists and eight digs.
 
The Mariners were led by 6-foot-0 freshman middle blocker Charlene Swick (Incline Village, NV) who had six kills (6-4-14, .143) and five blocks while sophomore outside hitter Cassandra Palma (Loomis, CA) collected 10 digs, six kills, three aces and two blocks. Freshman outside Caitlin McCabe (Edgewood, NM) equaled a match high with seven kills (7-4-26, .115). Freshman setter Riley Huelbig (Poolesville, MD) contributed 20 assists and seven digs.
 
NJCU hit .121 in the opening set with nine kills (9-5-33, .121) but fell into the red in the second and third sets with seven kills and eight attack errors in each of the final two games. USMMA had nine kills in the opening game and 11 in set two with eight in the final period.
 
In the opening set, the hosts jumped out to a 9-2 led before the Knights tied it at 9-9 behind the serving of Garcia. But the Mariners regained the lead with the next five points. NJCU came as close as 19-17 before falling, 25-20.
 
In the second set, the Mariners could never fully pull away, leading by between three and five points throughout most of the period. Ahead 20-17, the Mariners would score five of the final seven points for a 25-19 decision.
 
In the third set, NJCU opened a 7-4 lead before USMMA turned the tables, unleashing a 14-1 run behind the serving of Palma, who floored three consecutive aces, and Danhof, who served nine straight times, landing a pair of aces. Swick and freshman outside Candice Dunagan (Hamilton, MT) combined for two blocks as the hosts built an 18-8 lead and prevailed by 11, 25-14.
 
NJCU is back home on Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Rutgers University-Camden in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.