DOYLESTOWN, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team bounced back from a first set loss to convincingly take the next three sets as the Gothic Knights upended Delaware Valley University, 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-17) in a non-conference match on October 22 at James Work Gymnasium. It was NJCU's first win over the Aggies in five meetings.
 
Junior middle hitter Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) produced a .400 attack percentage and unleashed 11 kills (11-3-20) with three blocks and two aces as NJCU (11-14) limited the Aggies (1-16, Lost 11, 0-7 home), members of the MAC Freedom conference, to a -.010 attack percentage. Haxhaj reached double figures in kills for the 16th time in her career in the win and fourth time this year.
 
NJCU had a 39-26 margin in kills in the match and dominated in the service games with 17 aces. The Knights had a 76 percent sideout ratio in the second set and 66 percent in game four.
 
Sophomore setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby), who entered the week 28th in Division III in aces per set, uncorked four more aces and distributed 28 assists with five kills. Freshman libero Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) defended a match-best 13 digs.
 
Also for NJCU, freshman outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) had six kills, six digs and three aces while freshman Elizabeth Danco (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) tallied four aces.
 
Taylor Klecan was the top player for DelVal with a match-best 12 kills (12-7-35, .143), eight digs and two aces. Nicole Daigneault finished with 23 assists and two blocks and Lilly Gilbert had four aces.
 

DelVal had its only positive attack percentage in game one when it hit .185 with 10 kills (five errors) and NJCU committed 12 miscues. Still, it was anyone's game when the fifth tie of the set—an ace by senior Valerie Ballestas (North Bergen, NJ/Weehawken)—made it 21-21. But NJCU committed attack errors on three of the final four plays, and Klecan mixed in an ace.
 
NJCU bounced back in game two and never trailed, jumping out to a quick 6-1 margin which swelled to 16-8 after a block by McIntyre/Haxhaj and an ace by McIntyre. NJCU closed out the set by scoring four of the final five points, capped by an ace by Rayo.
 
The Knights hit .240 in game three with 11 kills (11-5-25), limiting DelVal to four kills. Tied 11-11, NJCU scored the next three points, led by a kill and ace from O'Donnell, and pushed the advantage to 19-13 as McIntyre floored three consecutive aces. NJCU eventually used the 6-0 run to put the set out of reach.
 
In the fourth game, NJCU hit .233 with a dozen putaways; the Aggies had just six kills. Trailing 15-14, the Knights scored the next eight points behind the serving of Ballestas and capped by back-to-back kills by junior middle hitter Elyssa Magee (Kearny, NJ/Kearny). In all, NJCU reeled off 11 of the final 13 points in the match.
 
Of Note:

• Delaware Valley leads all-time series, 4-1.
• Georgina Rayo notched 10+ digs in a match for the sixth time.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU plays its final home match and New Jersey Athletic Conference contest of the season on Tuesday, October 27 (7 p.m.) when it hosts Montclair State University at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. MSU (14-7, 5-2 NJAC) won last year's meeting, 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-14) on October 28, 2014 in Montclair, NJ. The Red Hawks lead the all-time series, 23-8, and have won the last six meetings since 2009.