New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score LA PLUME, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Wilkes University hit a collective .357 and had a 40-21 advantage in kills as the Colonels defeated New Jersey City University, 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-18) at the Keystone College Quad on September 28.
 
Wilkes (8-7) extended its winning streak to five by sweeping NJCU (5-10) in only the third-ever meeting between the schools. The Knights were playing their second of three matches on the day.
 
In defeat, NJCU was led by junior middle hitter JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) with seven kills and a .278 attack rate (7-2-18). Junior setter MADELYN LEON (West New York, NJ/Memorial) totaled 15 assists, six digs and two aces. Senior libero CINDY GARCIA (West New York, NJ/Memorial) defended seven digs.
 
Wilkes was led by the play of rookie outside hitter Ally Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford), niece of long-time William Paterson University assistant coach Sue Paskas Downey, as the only Jersey native on the roster hit .565 with 14 kills against one error (14-1-23) and added 11 digs for a double-double. Senior middle hitter Casey Bohan hit .833 with 10 kills in 12 attempts without an error.
 
Setter Megan Powers provided 37 assists and six digs. Paige Trusty added eight kills at a .353 percentage (8-2-17) while Marissa Mallory finished with 13 digs.
 
Wilkes had 12 kills in the opening game when it hit .214 (12-6-28) and jumped out to a 15-8 lead. A 7-1 spurt allowed NJCU to close the gap to one, 16-15 and the deficit was later two (19-17) before the Colonels scored five straight points, including two kills by Paskas to claim a 24-17 lead, en route to the 25-20 decision.
 
The Colonels put up scintillating attack numbers in the second and third sets, hitting .462 and .400, respectively, with 13 kills against one error in game two and 15 winners in set three. Wilkes led from the start in set two, jumping in front by scores of 13-2 and 20-4 before cruising, 25-12.
 
There were seven ties and five lead changes in the third set until Wilkes began to pull away midway through the game. With Wilkes holding a slight lead, 18-16, the Colonels put the neutral-site match away by scoring seven of the final nine points. Back-to-back kills by Paskas made it 23-18 before Abigail Saunders uncorked consecutive aces to secure the win, 25-18.