JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Rowan University was too strong on September 24 as the Profs  posted a 42-18 differential in kills and hit .326 as a team in a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-20, 25-22) over the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team in a New Jersey Athletic Conference matchup at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court). The match was NJCU's home opener.
 
Rowan (7-5, 2-1 NJAC) chalked up 51.0 points in the match (25.o for NJCU) and restricted the Gothic Knights (5-5, 0-3 NJAC) to a .038 attack percentage. The Gothic Knights never saw a lead in the first two sets. The third set was much more competitive with 11 ties and five lead changes.
 
Erica O'Hagan finished with a match-high 14 kills in 27 attempts while committing only three errors (.407 attack percentage). Jennifer Vorel ended the match with 15 digs, more than double than anyone else on Rowan. Rebecca Dantonio had 28 assists for Rowan, which was aided by six kills from Maggie Catherina and five from Dalton Sanchez.
 
NJCU freshmen outside hitters Georgina Rayo (Jersey City NJ/McNair Academy) and Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) each had a team-high six kills for the hosts. O'Donnell hit .375 without an error (6-0-16). Rayo collected nine digs. Sophomore setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) contributed 17 assists, seven digs and two aces.
 
Rowan had 13 kills in game one when it hit .409 as a team (13-4-22) with 14 winners in game two. The Profs finished with 15 kills in the third set at a .400 clip (15-3-30).
 
In the third set, NJCU led from the opening point before the teams played back-and-forth volleyball that culminated in ties as late as 20-20. But a one-point game was separated by a kill by O'Hagan and she later added a block for 24-22. Catherina landed a kill for match point.
 
Quotable Knights:
Head Coach Robert Cole (second season)
"I was proud of the way we battled and proud of the way we fought. But that's the expectation now. We need to bring it day in and day out."
 
Of Note:

• Rowan leads the all-time series, 28-3, and has won the last nine meetings.

 
What's Next?:
NJCU faces Cedar Crest College and Gwynedd Mercy University on Saturday September 26 at 1 and 3 p.m. when it goes on the road to Gwynedd Mercy University in a non-conference tri-match in Gwynedd Valley, PA. NJCU and Cedar Crest have split the all-time series, 1-1 with NJCU winning 3-2 last season (14-25,23-25,25-10,25-22,15-11), also at Gwynedd Mercy. Gwynedd Mercy won the first-ever meeting against NJCU last season, 3-2  (25-21,18-25,25-23,18-25,15-8).