MORRISTOWN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University opened its 2014 campaign, dropping a pair of matches against Wesley College (Del.), 3-1, and the College of St. Elizabeth, 3-0 on August 29 in a tri-match hosted by CSE. NJCU, opening a season in a tri-match in Morristown for the second straight year, fell to Wesley 25-20, 25-19, 18-25 and 25-13. CSE downed the Gothic Knights 25-16, 25-16, 25-17.
 
The August 29^th start date was the earliest season opener in the 32-year history of the women's volleyball program. Senior outside hitter Jade Medley (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) moved into seventh place in school history in career kills, compiling 19 in seven sets. First-year head coach Robert Cole was making his debut as the new Gothic Knight head coach after two seasons as theprogram's assistant.
 After dropping the opening two sets, NJCU forced a fourth game before the Wolverines cruised to the 3-1 decision.
 
Medley had a match-high nine kills and added nine digs to account for NJCU's most productive effort. Highly-touted freshman setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hills, PA/Upper Darby) delivered 21 assists, nine digs and two aces in her debut.
 
Also for the Knights, senior libero Marissa Scarpa (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) had 14 digs and three aces. Senior right side Ashley Latushko (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) chipped in 11 digs and a pair of aces.
 
Arnelle Akakpo led Wesley with eight kills and added eight digs. Beth Schlecker finished with 22 assists. Tionne Graves-Brown uncorked eight aces and collected eight digs. The Wolverines handcuffed NJCU's serve receive with 21 aces.
 In the second match, St. Elizabeth hit .225 as a club with 28 kills and only 10 errors and limited NJCU to a -.024 attack percentage in sweeping the match.
 
Medley had more than half of NJCU's offense, slugging a match-high 10 kills (10-8-34). No other Gothic Knight had more than four kills. Scarpa moved to outside hitter and provided 15 digs and hit .500 with four winners (4-0-8). McIntyre totaled 16 assists.
 
Katie Cooper led the Screaming Eagles with eight kills (8-3-22), a .227 attack rate and 12 digs. Nicole Morera had a team-high nine kills, adding eight digs, two aces and two blocks. Amy Cooper dished 22 assists.
 
CSE hit .435 in the opening game with 12 kills and only two errors, and followed the opening act with eight kills each in the second and third sets.
 NJCU plays in the Geutle CUA Invitational at Catholic University in Washington, DC on September 6 and 7, facing Catholic, Cabrini College, Marymount University and Marywood University.