BROOKLYN, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team lost two tight sets to the College of St. Elizabeth in a 3-0 loss (27-25, 25-16, 25-23) before cruising past host Pratt Institute, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-15) in a non-conference tri-match hosted by Pratt on September 12.
 
NJCU, playing its second tri-match of the season, was 5-2 after the split. Junior middle hitter Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) tallied a combined 17 kills in the two matches while senior libero Valerie Ballestas (North Bergen, NJ/Weehawken) defended 27 digs in the two contests.
 
Match 1: St. Elizabeth 3, NJCU 0 (27-25, 25-16, 25-23)
NJCU had its opportunities but couldn't find a way to overcome the Eagles, dropping the first set in extra points before falling by two in the third game. There were nine ties and five lead changes in the opening set and six more ties (two lead swaps) in the third.
 
Neither team hit well as CSE had 29 kills and 26 errors (97 attempts, .031) and NJCU hit -.080 (19-26-87). NJCU committed 15 service errors in the loss.
 
Haxhaj led NJCU with seven kills and two aces.  Ballestas defended 11 digs and sophomore setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) dished 16 assists and nine digs.
 
For CSE, Christy Marte (nine kills, .278), Mikaela Gongora (eight kills, .143) and Kiana Cunningham (seven kills, .227) combined for 24 of the team's 29 winners. Marte had the best all-around match, adding seven blocks (two solo). Cunningham chipped in four blocks and eight digs and Gongora had three blocks. Caroline Marte defended 16 digs. Setter Nicole Morera dished 26 assists and four aces.
 
NJCU trailed 24-23 in the first set before Haxhaj landed a kill to tie it and an attack error by the Eagles made it 25-24. But NJCU committed a service error on set point, an attack error on the 26th point and Ashley Morera served an ace to win the game. Tied 20-20 in game three, Christy Marte had back-to-back kills (22-20) and another for a 24-21 lead before she sealed the win with a shot to the floor.
 
Match 2: NJCU 3, Pratt Institute 0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-15)
Haxhaj had another outstanding match, hitting .450 with 10 kills (10-1-20) and two blocks as the Knights knocked off host Pratt. NJCU landed double figures in kills in all three games (11, 14, 11) and hit above .300 in games two and three.
 
McIntyre gave out 21 assists, hit .857 with six kills (no errors) in seven swings, uncorked six aces and defended six digs in a great all-around effort.  Ballestas defended a career-high 16 digs.
 
Also for NJCU, freshman outside hitter Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) tallied eight kills and two aces while freshman outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) provided 10 digs and to blocks.
 
Hannah Calderwood hit .400 with nine kills (9-1-20) and a pair of aces for the Cannoneers. Alli Houghton added 19 assists and seven digs.
 
The first set was the most competitive with eight ties and three lead changes. Up just one (22-21), the Knights scored the final three points—a Pratt service error, a McIntyre kill and an ace by sophomore defensive specialist Jacqueline Romero (West New York, NJ/Memorial). NJCU pulled away from the Cannoneers early in games two and three, building an 8-1 lead in the last set.   
 
Of Note:

• NJCU leads the all-time series with St. Elizabeth, 25-11, although the Eagles have won the last five meetings.
• First meeting between NJCU and Pratt.
• Ballestas' 16 digs against Pratt were a career high. She had reached double figures in digs four times.
• Haxhaj posted her 14th career double-digit kills effort.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU opens New Jersey Athletic Conference play on September 15 (7 p.m.) when it visits rival William Paterson University at the Red Center in Wayne, NJ.