JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team kept its winning streak against non-conference metro-area schools alive on October 6, as junior middle hitter Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) hit .538 with nine kills and freshman outside hitter Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) provided eight kills and eight digs in a 3-0 sweep of York College (NY), 25-21, 25-16, 25-13, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU improved to 9-7 overall while defeating York (3-14, lost 5) for the 14th consecutive meeting since 1991. NJCU had a 70 percent sideout rate for the match including 76 percent in the second and third sets.
 
NJCU entered the match ranked 15th nationally in Division III in lowest opponent hitting percentage (.097) and limited the Cardinals to a -.093 attack percentage with 27 errors (20 kills, 75 attempts). NJCU smashed 30 kills and hit .182 as a team.
 
Haxhaj hit .538 with nine kills in 13 swings (two errors) while providing three blocks (one solo). Rayo hit .438 with eight kills and just one error (16 attempts) while chipping in eight digs and two aces. Sophomore setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby), who entered the game ranked No. 13 in Division III in service aces, dished 21 assists and floored three aces while proving dangerous at the net with four kills in five swings (.800).
 
Senior defensive specialist Valerie Ballestas (North Bergen, NJ/Weehawken) and sophomore libero Jacqueline Romero (West New York, NJ/Memorial) were flawless on serve reception in 19 combined attempts (10 and 9, respectively).
 
Kiranjeet Kaur (Punjab, India) totaled 14 assists for York while Shauncia McClendon (Creedmore, NC) led the Cardinals with eight kills and nine digs.
 
After York scored the first four points of game one, NJCU countered and tied at 7-7, reeled off the next four points for an 11-7 lead which it would maintain. Up 21-17 late in the game, three straight kills by Rayo, McIntyre and freshman middle hitter Nadia Montgomery (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) pushed the lead to 24-17 before Haxhaj put set point away.
 

In game two, the Knights forced a sideout tied 5-5. Ballestas would serve six straight points for NJCU as York committed five attack errors with one forced by a combo block by Montgomery and New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison), to claim an 11-6 margin. The Knights cruised from there, winning the set by nine.
 
NJCU led wire-to-wire in the third set, jumping out to an immediate 6-0 advantage behind the serving of McIntyre. She landed back-to-back aces to open the game before Haxhaj floored three consecutive kills. York was able to draw within 11-8 before the Knights sealed it with a 7-1 run to seize an 18-9 differential.
 
Quotable Knights:
Head Coach Robert Cole (second season), on the third straight win: "I was happy with our serve receive and our defense. I think Jackie and Val played very well and took control of the backline. Offensively I don't know if the numbers will speak to how much we improved as the game went on but we really started to swing better in the second and third [sets]. I'm looking forward to watching this film and correcting some stuff tomorrow."
 
Of Note:

• NJCU leads the all-time series, 15-1, and has won 14 consecutive meetings since 1991.
• Rachel McIntyre upped her career aces mark to 97. She needs three more to become the sixth Gothic Knight to reach 100 aces in only two seasons (23rd overall at NJCU).
• Shege Haxhaj, with 509 kills, is 14 behind Cara Strzelczyk (523 kills, 2002) for 14th place on NJCU's all-time list.
• Junior starting middle hitter Elyssa Magee (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) did not play.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU plays in the St. Joseph's College (LI) Tournament in Patchogue, NY, beginning with a neutral court match with Misericordia University on Friday, October 9 at 6 p.m. On day two of the tournament on October 10, the Knights face Allegheny (12 p.m.) and host St. Joseph's (4 p.m.). NJCU lost to Misericordia in the first-ever meeting between the clubs last season, 301 (25-13, 25-12, 18-25, 25-13) on October 11, 2014.­­­