JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  Montclair State University clinched the No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the 6-team New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament as the Red Hawks defeated the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team, 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-15) on October 27 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).

SENIOR NIGHT Photo Gallery
 
Montclair (16-9, 6-2 NJAC) hit.330 as a team and had a 3-to-1 ratio in kills (42/14) against the Gothic Knights (-.053). MSU had 42 kills in 88 swings (13 attempts). The Knights dropped to 11-15 overall (0-8 NJAC).
 
The Red Hawks were led by freshman right side hitter Natalia Majkut (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) and junior outside hitter Courtney Matlock (Jackson, NJ/Memorial) with nine kills apiece. Majkut hit .500 (9-1-16) with two blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Madison Maute (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) provided six kills in seven attempts, hitting .714.
 
Junior setter Kimberly Matlock (Jackson, NJ/Memorial) dished 35 assists, had three kills in four swings and landed three of MSU's eight aces. Danielle Murray (Linden, NJ/Linden) led the Red Hawks in digs with nine.
 
No Gothic Knight had more than four kills. Freshman libero Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair) led the Gothic Knights with a match-high 11 digs.
 
Montclair State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game one thanks to three straight kills, all by different Red Hawks – Kimberly Matlock, Madison Maute and Courtney Matlock. The Red Hawks ended the first game by scoring eight of the final nine points. Montclair pulled away from NJCU in the middle of set two. With NJCU ahead 6-2 in the third set, MSU used an 8-0 run, capped by three straight kills by Majkut. MSU extended the margin to 14-8 and 20-12 before clinching the sweep.
 
Of Note:

• 32nd meeting. Montclair State leads the all-time series, 24-8, and has won the last seven meetings.
• Georgina Rayo notched 10+ digs in a match for the seventh time.
• The match was NJCU's final home match (4-5).
• Prior to the match, NJCU honored its lone senior, libero/outside hitter Valerie Ballestas (North Bergen, NJ/Weehawken).

 
What's Next?:
NJCU will conclude its 2015 season by traveling to Bronxville, NY for the second time this season, facing Sarah Lawrence College on Friday, October 30 (6 p.m.). NJCU won the initial meeting on September 8, 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-17). NJCU leads the all-time series, 5-0 (five sweeps).