New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score WAYNE, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | William Paterson University hit .234 as a team, committing just 12 attack errors in three sets and remained unbeaten on the season, sweeping New Jersey City University, 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-17) in the 2013 New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both schools on September 19 at the WPU Rec Center.
 
The Pioneers improved to 9-0 on the season (1-0 NJAC) while the Gothic Knights dropped to 1-7 (0-1 NJAC). NJCU hit .026 in the match with 25 kills, but committed 22 attack errors in the setback.
 
In a match with 116 combined digs defensively between the two squads, senior libero CINDY GARCIA (West New York, NJ/Memorial) defended a match-best 22 digs. It was her 35^th career effort of double-digit kills and sixth time exceeding 20 digs in a contest.
 
In defeat, junior middle hitter JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) notched a team-high nine kills with three blocks and junior setter MADELYN LEON (West New York, NJ/Memorial) delivered 20 assists. Junior opposite ASHLEY LATUSHKO (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) provided 11 digs and four service aces.
  The Pioneers were paced by Daniella Salemo with a .364 attack percentage and a double-double of 14 kills (14-2-33) and 11 digs. She was one of four Pioneers with double figures in digs. Shauna VanDeRee hit .292 with 17 digs and 10 kills (10-3-24). Mary Long added a .364 attack rate, landing 10 winners (10-2-22) and four blocks, including three solo putbacks.
 
Also for the hosts, setter Danielle Koukos finished with 26 assists, eight digs and a pair of aces. Erin Roach bugged NJCU with 12 digs and Amanda Morales chipped in 10 digs.
 
In the first set, the squads traded eight ties and three lead changes but ultimately, the Pioneers prevailed with 15 kills in the period, limiting the Knights to a -.027 percentage. Tied at 17-17, WP scored the next five points, highlighted by a block and kill by Long, before prevailing 25-21.
 
WPU never trailed in game two, hitting .333 as a team with 13 winners (13-2-33). The Pioneers jumped out to a 12-3 lead. NJCU had a 10-9 advantage in the third set kills but committed seven errors. Meanwhile, WPU landed nine kills with only three errors in the game, and opened a 21-9 cushion before completing the sweep, 25-17.
 
NJCU is back in action on Saturday, September 21 in the opening day of the Sarah Lawrence Invitational, with neutral court matches against SUNY Maritime (11 a.m.) and The King's College (NY) (1 p.m.) in Bronxville, NY.