MORRISTOWN, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) ignited the New  Jersey City University women's volleyball team with her first career double-double as the Gothic Knights won for the 11th time this season, sweeping a competitive non-conference road match from the College of Saint Elizabeth, 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 26-24) on October 12 at Saint Joseph Hall. NJCU trailed in all three sets yet rallied each time to prevail.
 
NJCU (11-10) served 14 aces as a team and combined for 40 digs as the Gothic Knights defeated the Eagles (6-14) for the second time this season.
 
Duque paced NJCU with 10 kills, a season-high 11 digs and five aces while hitting .200 (10-6-20) while junior setter Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) contributed 11 assists, eight digs and four aces.
 
Sophomore outside Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) finished with 11 digs and two blocks and senior setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) provided 12 assists, five digs and two aces. Junior middle hitter Nadia Montgomery (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) stuffed four blocks.
 
Sophomore outside Stephanie Mitarotonda (East Rutherford, N.J.) was the top CSE player with six kills and three aces while freshman setter Maura Farley (Iselin, N.J.) collected 11 assists and three aces.
 
Statistically speaking, CSE outplayed NJCU in the opening set. The Eagles produced 11 of their 24 kills in the match and the Knights were in the red offensively with only five kills and a -.053 percentage. But the Knights stayed in it thanks to five aces and 15 digs and forced eight ties and six lead changes. NJCU was behind 19-17 before a 6-0 run behind the serving of McIntyre put NJCU in front, 23-19. She had two aces during that stretch. CSE scored the next two points before NJCU closed the game with a solo block by freshman middle hitter Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, NJ/Hudson Catholic) and a Duque winner.
 
NJCU had 11 kills in game two but trailed early, 11-5. CSE continued to hold a sizeable 21-15 advantage and led 23-19. The Eagles would not score again. NJCU chalked up the final six points and eight of the last 10. Two kills by Rayo, sandwiched around a combo block by Rayo and Montgomery drew NJCU within one (23-22), Duque floored back-to-back aces to take the lead and the Knights survived 25-23.
 
In the third set NJCU again trailed midway through the game but rallied to reclaim a 20-18 lead after kills by Rayo and Seickendick and a Rayo ace. A kill by Duque and back-to-back kills from Montgomery gave the Knights two match points (24-22). A pair of errors by NJCU allowed CSE to tie it but NJCU got a third match point and finished it with an ace by Montgomery.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 39th meeting (second this season); NJCU leads, 28-11.
• NJCU also won on September 1 in the season-opening match on a neutral court at the Scranton Invitational.
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) collected her second career double-figure kills effort.
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) tallied her third career double digit digs total (first this season).
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) produced five or more aces in a match for the fourth time this season and seventh time in her career.
• NJCU was without starting outside hitter Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) due to injury for a second straight match.
• Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) had 10 or more digs for the fifth time this season and 13th time in her career.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU is idle until Tuesday, October 17 when it hosts Stockton University at 7 p.m. in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court). Stockton, winners of eight of the last nine NJAC championships, leads the all-time series, 45-5, and has won the last nine meetings since 2008.

 
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