JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University pulled off a remarkably improbable comeback in the third set, rallying from deficits of 17-5, 23-12 and 24-18, staving off six game points to defeat Baruch College, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 26-24) in a non-conference match on October 19 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU moved back above .500 at 12-11, dropping the Bearcats to 10-13. NJCU had a 39-20 differential in kills behind the play of rookie middle hitter Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, NJ/Hudson Catholic) who hit an astounding .800 with eight kills in 10 swings (8-0-10) and five blocks. Baruch was limited to a .039 attack percentage.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) had eight kills, eight digs and five service aces and junior opposite Naiomi Cintron hit .385 with eight kills and two blocks.
 
NJCU, which reached double digits in kills in all three sets, had 14 in the first two sets. Tied 19-19 in game one, NJCU scored six of the final seven points to clinch the set, 25-20. Back-to-back kills by sophomore opposite Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) and consecutive aces by Duque sparked the first four points for a 23-19 lead before an ace from sophomore libero Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) sealed it.
 
The teams traded 12 ties and seven lead changes in game two. Behind 21-19, NJCU scored the next four points—a Florimon kill and back-to-back putaways by Seickendick. Another kill by Florimon and an ace by senior setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) clinched a 25-22 win as NJCU again scored six of the final seven points.
 
For most of the third set, it appeared Baruch would extend the match. The Bearcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead, aided by three aces by sophomore Yeaslie Velasco (Ridgewood, N.Y.) and later three consecutive aces by junior outside Leslie Chen (Staten Island, N.Y.) made it 16-5 before a kill added to it, 17-5. Two kills and an ace pushed the deficit to 21-9 and a kill by Baruch gave the guests a 23-12 lead.
 
Suddenly, the tide turned, albeit harmlessly at first. NJCU scored six consecutive points—highlighted by two Seickendick kills, a combined block by Seickendick and Cintron, and a McIntyre ace. Still, after an error, Baruch still owned six set points, leading 24-18.
 
With no margin for error, NJCU unleashed eight consecutive points to end the night—all behind the serving of Duque and an energized Gothic Knight crowd. A kill by Duque and ace sandwiched around two Baruch attack errors, cut the deficit to 24-22. A kill by junior outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) and another Duque ace tied it at 24-24. Baruch, clearly stunned, had no answer and Seickendick rejected a solo block for a 25-24 lead and a Cintron kill sealed one of the best comebacks in program history.
 
Statistically for NJCU, McIntyre tallied 15 assists, six digs and three aces and junior setter Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) provided 16 assists. Florimon had six kills, O'Donnell collected 10 digs and Rayo defended eight more digs.
 
For Baruch, Velasco had five of her team's 10 aces. Sophomore middle blocker Yijia Cai (Shanghai, China) hit .438 with seven kills (7-0-16) with two blocks. Freshman outside Stella Chung (Staten Island, N.Y.) hit .429 with seven kills (7-1-14), eight digs and two aces.
 

QUOTABLE KNIGHTS:
Head Coach Robert Cole on the comeback: "Everyone contributed to the comeback and had their part in this win. I can't thank the men's basketball team enough for their support at the end. It was fun to be in that kind of environment and see a team come together and complete a great rally."
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 11th meeting. Baruch leads all-time, 8-3. Baruch had its four-game winning streak in the series snapped.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU plays its final tri-match of the season on Saturday, October 21 when it heads to Old Westbury, N.Y. for a 12 p.m. neutral non-conference match against New Jersey Athletic Conference rival William Paterson University and host SUNY Old Westbury at 2 p.m. WP won the conference meeting between the schools on September 26 in Wayne, N.J. by a 3-0 outcome (25-12, 25-21, 25-14) and leads the all-time series, 40-12, with nine consecutive wins. It will be the 53rd meeting. Meanwhile, NJCU and OW play for the first time since November 1, 2013; NJCU leads the all-time series, 11-2.

 
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