ALLENTOWN, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University lost its opening match to Gwynedd Mercy University in five sets and trailed host Cedar Crest College, 2-0, in the second match of a tri-match before storming back to defeat CCC, 3-2 (14-25, 23-25, 25-10, 25-22, 15-11) in non-conference women's volleyball action on October 4. GMU took the opener, 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-8).
 
NJCU (3-13) senior middle hitter Jade Medley (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) had a big day, amassing 34 kills in 10 sets while sophomore middle hitter Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) floored 31 kills in the two matches. Rookie setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) totaled 11 assists.
 
Medley reached double digits in kills for the 32^nd time in her career and seventh and eighth times this season while notching 20 kills in the loss to GM. It was the third time in her career she's reached the 20-kill plateau.
 
More details to come.
 
 
QUOTES:
NJCU head coach Robert Cole (first season; third year with program):
"I was disappointed with our play versus Gwynedd Mercy. We didn't deserve to win a game where we can't execute the fundamentals. But the team rallied together after the second set [against Cedar Crest] and decided that they didn't want to go down without a fight. The senior leaders decided to step up. We preach a lot about playing with confidence and today they decided they were better than what they've been showing."
 
Senior tri-captain Marissa Scarpa:
"I can honestly say this was the first time we didn't let mistakes get the best of us. We fought through every single point and we did it together as a team. The whole match was definitely hard fought and we left everything we had on the court."