GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  For the third time this season, the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team split a non-conference tri-match on September 26, as the Gothic Knights bounced back from a first set loss to beat Cedar Crest College, 3-1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-14, 25-15) before falling in a tight match to host Gwynedd Mercy University, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22).
 
NJCU remains .500 on the season, now 6-6 overall. Junior middle hitter Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) reached double figures in kills for the 15th time in her career in the win over Cedar Crest (1-11). Freshman outside hitter Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) provided a combined 22 digs on the day, reaching double digits in both contests. NJCU unleashed 21 service aces in the win over Cedar Crest.
 
Match 1: NJCU 3, Cedar Crest 1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-14, 25-15)
 
Haxhaj put away 10 kills while hitting .400 (10-2-20) and chalked up six service aces while sophomore setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) dished 29 assists with seven aces and seven digs in the come-from-behind win. After losing the opening game, the Knights cruised to victory in the final three games, holding the Falcons to negative attack percentages in each set.
 
NJCU junior middle hitter Elyssa Magee (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) had one of the best matches of her career, hitting .333 with seven kills (7-2-15), five blocks (four assisted) and two aces.
 
O'Donnell and senior libero Valerie Ballestas (North Bergen, NJ/Weehawken) each defended 10 digs in the match while O'Donnell had a pair of blocks. Freshman Elizabeth Danco (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) landed four aces.
 
The Falcons served 11 aces in the match, but seven came in the opening game when the Falcons scored the final three points of a close set to win.
 
Maggie Olock was CC's leader with seven kills and six digs while Ericka Clayton added 10 digs and five kills. Celina Danish tallied 14 assists and three aces. Kaylee Martinez (10 digs) and Molly Schnaubelt (four aces) also helped their squad in defeat.
 

Tied 10-10 in set two, NJCU unleashed a 10-1 run behind the serving of Haxhaj and McIntyre, who each uncorked two aces during the stretch. Even at 7-7 in game three, a 9-1 outburst, including three kills and two aces by Haxhaj, pushed the advantage to 16-8. The Knights scored the first four points of the fourth set, then scored another five straight for a 9-5 lead that would never be relinquished.
 
Match 2: Gwynedd Mercy 3, NJCU 0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22)
 
NJCU was in every set but couldn't find a way to pull one out in a 3-0 loss to the Griffins. Gwynedd Mercy only hit .049 in the match (25-20-103) but the Gothic Knights committed 29 attack errors and hit below .000 (-.050).
 
O'Donnell was NJCU's top producer with seven kills and 12 digs and McIntyre recorded her 11th career double-double with 21 assists, 11 digs, two aces and two blocks.
 
GMU had fairly even offensive distribution with four players—Samantha Schearer (six kills) and five kills apiece from Lauren Tressel, Laura Kirk and Jessica Behr— accounting for 20 of its 25 winners. Lauren Martin had 18 assists and three aces and Kirk defended 11 digs.
 
After losing the opening game, NJCU led set two, 21-20 when three Gothic Knight errors—a service miscue and two attack errors—gave the hosts a 23-21 lead before a kill (Behr) and ace (Martin) gave the Griffins the set.
 
Trailing 23-16 in the third set, NJCU made a huge 6-0 run late to get back within a point at 23-22 after a pair of kills by freshmen Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) and Naiomi Cintron (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne). But Behr landed a kill for match point before prevailing on an attack error.
 
Of Note:

• NJCU leads the all-time series with Cedar Crest, 2-1.
• Gwynedd Mercy leads the all-time series with NJCU, 2-0 (both at Gwynedd Valley, Pa. in 2014 and 2015).

 
What's Next?:
NJCU returns home to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court) on Tuesday, September 29 for a 7 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference match with rival Rutgers-Newark (7-3, 0-2 NJAC). RUN won last year's meeting on September 30, 2014 by a 3-0 result (25-8, 25-13, 25-17). NJCU is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings but RUN leads the all-time series, 35-10.