JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Leading 21-11 in the fourth set, New Jersey City University held off a furious rally from William Paterson to force a fifth game. But after five ties in the final set, including 10-10, the Pioneers scored the final five points and outlasted NJCU, 3-2 (25-13, 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 15-10) in a thrilling New Jersey Athletic Conference women's volleyball match on September 27 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ("Coach Charlie Brown Court").
 
In a battle of two squads seeking their first wins in the league, the Pioneers (8-4, 1-3 NJAC) had a 58-51 edge in kills and demonstrated accurate serving only committed one service error in the entire match. NJCU had 51 kills, 15 aces and nine blocks but fell to 6-5 (0-4 NJAC).
 
Five players had a double-double in the match—three for the Gothic Knights. Sophomore outside hitter Ayleen Pittar (Union City, N.J./Union City) had a match-best .395 attack percentage landing a career-high 17 kills with only two errors (38 attacks) while defending 20 digs and four blocks.
 
Sophomore outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, N.J./Harrison) reached double figures in kills for the first time this season and notched her first career double-double with career highs of 17 kills and 23 digs with two aces.
 
Junior setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) produced a double-double of 46 assists and 17 digs with five aces and two solo blocks. Senior middle hitter Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) added 12 kills at a .257 clip (12-3-35), five blocks and three aces. Sophomore transfer Shaylah Ware (Newark, N.J./Science Park), in her first match after missing the first 10 of the season with an injury, provided 19 digs and four aces.
 
Three players reached double figures in kills and five in digs for the Pioneers. Freshman outside Alyson Toman (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) had a match-high 18 kills (18-8-48, .208) while sophomore middle Chelliah Phillips (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) added 16 kills (.333, 16-5-33) and four blocks.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Amanda Lembo (North Haledon, N.J./DePaul Catholic) had 13 kills (.188) and 12 digs while sophomore middle Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands) finished with 21 digs, eight kills and three aces. Sophomore setter Kendall Caruso (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) had 45 assists, 13 digs and three blocks and the Pioneers received a combined 28 digs from junior libero Julianna Ginefra (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton) and freshman opposite Rachael Dallara (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights).
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After the Pioneers won the first two sets handily, NJCU clawed back in the third set. Down 18-14, NJCU grabbed the momentum with a 5-0 run capped by a kill by Pittar to tie it at 20-20 and another at 21-21. Even at 23-23, Pittar smashed a ball and a WP attack error sent the match to a fourth set.
 
In the fourth game at tied at 9-9, NJCU used a 7-0 outburst to grab a 16-9 lead behind the serving of McIntyre and the attacking of Pittar and Haxhaj who combined for five kills and a combo block during the run. Ware served three consecutive aces to give NJCU what appeared to be a substantial 21-11 lead after capping a 12-2 run.
 
WP didn't quit, battling back by scoring 12 of the next 14 points to tie the match at 23-23. Phillips, who had two kills to open the rally, had three during the run and Lembo added three kills. But NJCU got timely blocking as McIntyre stuffed Griffith solo for a 24-23 lead and on set point, Haxhaj and Pittar again combined for a rejection of Lembo.
 
NJCU scored the first two points of the deciding game, WP the next four and the Pioneers led 7-5 before NJCU tied it at 7-7 after two Pioneer errors and led 9-8 when O'Donnell and Haxhaj had consecutive winners. After WP scored the next two points Haxhaj crushed an attack for a 10-10 deadlock. But the Pioneers capitalized on three NJCU attack errors in the final five points and Griffith put away an attack on match point.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: William Paterson leads the all-time series, 39-12, and have won the last eight meetings since NJCU's last victory in 2008.

• Ayleen Pittar reached double figures in kills for the fifth time this season and in her career.
• Ayleen Pittar reached double figures in digs for the seventh time this season and ninth time in her career.
• Ayleen Pittar registered her fifth double-double this season and of her career.
• Amber O'Donnell's easily set a career high with 17 kills; her previous high as 10 in three sets at Sarah Lawrence as a freshman (October, 30, 2015).
• Amber O'Donnell recorded double figure digs for the 12th time in her career (seventh time in 2016). Her previous career high for digs was 13 at Bryn Mawr on September 3.
• Rachel McIntyre recorded her first double-double of the season and 13th of her career. The 17 digs equaled a career-high achieved in five sets against Gwynedd Mercy on October 4, 2014. The 46 assists were three shy of the career-high 49 she had in the same match.
• Shege Haxhaj (630 kills) needs four more kills to pass Glorinell Perez (2004-07, 633 kills) for the Top 10 in school history.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU is on the road in Riverdale, N.Y. for a non-conference match with the College of Mount Saint Vincent (5-9) on Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m. It will be the first meeting in 27 years. The last meeting was a 2-1 win for Mount on a neutral court on October 14, 1989. It will be the second meeting in Riverdale; the previous was October 1, 1987. The Dolphins lead the all-time series, 4-1.