JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore outside hitter Ayleen Pittar (Union City, N.J./Union City) was a late-season addition to the 2015 Gothic Knight roster. This year, NJCU is glad she was around for the start. Pittar posted a dominant double-double and her 14 kills helped the New Jersey City University's women's volleyball team to a season-opening sweep over Delaware Valley University, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-12) on September 1 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ("Coach Charlie Brown Court").
 
With 14 kills, Pittar had just one fewer than the entire DelVal team combined (15 kills) as she hit .464 with only one attack error in 28 swings. She added 11 digs and aced the Aggies (0-1) twice.
 
NJCU (1-0) junior setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) delivered 35 assists in 83 attempts (.422) and helped the Gothic Knights pound out 41 kills at a .293 attack rate. The Knights committed just 14 attack errors.
 
Sophomore right side Naiomi Cintron (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) hit .500 with seven kills (7-2-10). NJCU's two captains performed well. Senior middle hitter Elyssa Magee (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) had eight kills (.190) and two aces and senior middle Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) floored seven kills (.214) and four aces. Junior libero Jacqueline Romero (West New York, N.J./Memorial) defended a match-high 12 digs.
 
Sophomore middle Kayla Bracken (Spring Mills, Pa.) led DelVal with five kills. Junior outside Taylor Klecan (Wyoming, Del.) defended 10 digs.
 
NJCU limited the Aggies to a negative attack percentage in the first and third sets and NJCU hit .219 with 12 kills in game one with 13 more winners (.269) in a dominant game three.
 
In the opening set, NJCU used a 6-0 run in the middle of the set to open a 14-7 lead after back-to-back aces by Magee. Pittar, who had five kills in 10 swings (.500) in game one, put away shots for the 19th, 20th and 22nd points as NJCU closed out the game.
 
A competitive second set saw NJCU overcome a 21-15 deficit, roaring back to score 10 of the final 12 points. With NJCU down 16-15, DelVal scored four straight, including a pair of aces. But a kill by Cintron, a Haxhaj ace, and Pittar blast allowed the hosts to close within 21-18. Later, two more kills by Pittar made it a one-point game, 22-21. An ace by freshman Stephanie Duque (West New York, N.J./Memorial) tied it. After a DVU attack error put NJCU in front, Pittar, who had 11 kills through two sets, buried an attack and sophomore outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, N.J./Harrison) closed out the set with a kill.
 
NJCU opened a 6-2 lead in game three and built a comfortable lead. Ahead 17-12, the Knights reeled off eight consecutive points to end the match.
 
OF NOTE:

• Delaware Valley leads all-time series, 4-2; NJCU has won the last two meetings.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU plays the first tri-match of the season on Saturday, September 3 when it meets Bryn Mawr College and Penn State Brandywine at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Bryn Mawr, Pa. NJCU and PSU Brandywine will meet for the first time; Bryn Mawr leads the all-time series, 1-0 (3-0, August 31, 2013).