JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University unleashed 17 service aces while the College of Saint Elizabeth committed 20 costly service errors as NJCU swept the Eagles, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-22) in a non-conference match on September 15 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ("Coach Charlie Brown Court").
 
The Gothic Knights improved to 4-2 on the season as five different players had multiple aces. CSE (3-3) has its three-match winning streak end.
 
Senior middle hitter Elyssa Magee (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) uncorked six aces in 15 attempts while junior setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) finished with four aces in 17 serves, 13 assists and four kills in four swings (1.000).
 
Also for NJCU, sophomore  outside hitter Ayleen Pittar (Union City, N.J./Union City) had eight kills, six digs and two aces while senior middle Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) finished with three blocks and two aces. Freshman Stephanie Duque (West New York, N.J./Memorial) landed three aces. Junior libero Jacqueline Romero (West New York, N.J./Memorial) defended 10 digs.
 
NJCU had to counter St. Elizabeth's big middle, as 6-foot-8 Julia Misiejuk (Swiftwater, Pa.) proved to be difficult to block. She had a match-high 10 kills (10-4-23, .261). Freshman outside Yasmin'na Muhammad (New Brunswick, N.J./North 13th Street Tech) tallied seven kills and three aces. Senior setter Nicole Morera (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) chipped in 22 assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
In the opening set, NJCU served seven aces but had to figure how to adjust to Misiejuk, who had seven kills, including five in a seven-point stretch as CSE rebounded from a 5-1 deficit to take an 8-6 lead. The clubs played evenly with five ties, including 16-16 before CSE gained a one-point lead on a Muhammad kill. But NJCU responded with a four-point run, capped by an ace by Haxhaj and kill by Magee After CSE drew within 20-19, NJCU scored four in a row, including two aces by Duque, to claim a 24-19 lead, before winning on a service error.
 

Six more aces in the second set helped NJCU win easily. Down 12-10, Pittar had back-to-back kills to tie it and Magee aced the Eagles to give NJCU the lead for good. Another kill by Pittar followed by a second Magee ace made it 15-12. Magee went on to serve two more aces and four total during a 10-0 run. Haxhaj sprinkled in two more kills to help make it a 20-12 game. NJCU scored the final four points to win, 25-16.
 
In the third set, the Eagles had the early 5-0 advantage and maintained the lead late, 19-15 before the Knights countered. McIntyre had a dump kill, Pittar landed a winner in the back corner and another ace by McIntyre cut the deficit to one. A double block by Duque and Haxhaj tied it before kills by sophomore outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, N.J./Harrison) and Haxhaj put the hosts in front 21-19 after a 6-0 run. The lead reached 23-20 after an ace by Pittar. NJCU committed a pair of attack errors as the Eagles rallied within one (23-22) before the guests committed a service and attack error to grant NJCU the final two points.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 37th meeting. NJCU leads all-time series, 26-11. NJCU snaps CSE's five-match winning streak in the series.
• First win for NJCU in the series since a 3-2 outcome on October 25, 2011.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU will host its first tri-match of the season on Saturday, September 17 beginning at 11 a.m. against Sarah Lawrence College before facing Lehman College at 3 p.m. Sarah Lawrence (3-2) and Lehman (4-3) will play a neutral court match at 1 p.m. NJCU is 6-0 all-time against Sarah Lawrence (six sweeps) and leads Lehman all-time, 20-10. It will be the first meeting with Lehman since October 7, 2011—a 3-2 win for the Lightning in the Bronx, N.Y.