OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University's hopes of qualifying for the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament took a hit on October 21 as the Gothic Knights lost both matches of a non-conference tri-match hosted by SUNY Old Westbury. Playing both William Paterson and host Old Westbury for the second time this season, NJCU was swept by William Paterson, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 29-27) and lost a 3-1 decision to Old Westbury (26-24, 15-25, 25-22, 25-23).
 
NJCU entered the day 12-11 on the year and previously swept Old Westbury in a neutral match on September 23. But with the two losses, NJCU fell to 12-13. To become eligible for a second straight appearance in the ECAC Tournament, the Gothic Knights must defeat both Montclair State and St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) in the final two matches of the season next week.
 
MATCH 1: William Paterson 3, New Jersey City 0 (25-13, 25-13, 29-27)
In the second meeting of the season between the New Jersey Athletic Conference rivals, the Pioneers dominated the first two sets before the clubs went deep into extra points in the third set with WP ultimately prevailing. There were eight ties and three lead changes in game three.
 
NJCU had a 34-27 margin in kills in the loss but it committed 34 attack errors and hit .000 on 110 attack attempts. Meanwhile, the Pioneers were more accurate, committing just 13 attack errors. WP also combined for 9.0 blocks.
 
Sophomore opposite Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) matched her career high with 10 kills—her second effort of double-digit kills this year—hitting .316 in the loss (10-4-19). Sophomore libero Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) delivered a career-high 23 digs. Junior setter Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) and senior setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) had 17 and 14 assists, respectively.  Rookie middle hitter Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, NJ/Hudson Catholic) finished with seven kills and two blocks while junior outside hitter Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) and sophomore outside Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) each defended 11 digs.
 
For William Paterson, junior setter Kendall Caruso (Secaucus, N.J.) tallied a double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs. Junior middle hitter Christine Griffith (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) was one of two Pioneers with seven kills and produced five blocks, punctuated by four solo stuffs. Sophomore middle Alyson Toman (Secaucus, N.J.) hit .263 with seven kills (7-2-19). Junior middle Chelliah Phillips (Bergenfield, N.J.) hit .308 with five kills (5-1-13) and three blocks.
 
MATCH 2: SUNY Old Westbury 3, New Jersey City 1 (26-24, 15-25, 25-22, 25-23)
NJCU convincingly won set two but SUNY Old Westbury toughed out three tight sets to outlast the Gothic Knights, 3-1. NJCU again held the kills margin (37-32), but committed 15 more attack errors (33-18) and hit just .033. NJCU lost despite producing 18 service aces.
 
NJCU trailed 11-4 in game one before rallying to take the lead after a 6-0 run. Trailing later in the set, 23-19, NJCU answered with four consecutive points. Tied again at 24-24, NJCU committed a pair of blocking errors to allow the Panthers (11-12) to escape with the win. NJCU led wire-to-wire in game two and evened the match at 1-1.
 
In game three, NJCU again struggled with its accuracy and hitting -.143 dropped a three-point set. NJCU trailed 17-9 before a six-point run cut it to 17-15 and later drew within one, 23-22, after a pair of OW errors. Senior Marie McKenzie (Bronx, N.Y.)'s kill and NJCU's ninth attack error of the set gave OW a 25-22 win.
 
In the fourth set, NJCU fell behind 17-10 and 18-13 before a 6-0 outburst allowed the Knights to pull in front by one (19-18). But OW scored six of the next eight points, landing four kills in that span. Down 24-21, NJCU was able to stave off two match points and drew within 24-23, but an attack error on the next point ended the comeback bid.
 

In defeat, O'Donnell landed 12 kills (12-5-34, .206) and had nine digs. Duque unleashed nine service aces with seven kills and five digs. Florimon had seven kills (7-3-19) and Rayo defended 13 digs with three aces. Ware contributed 17 assists and three aces and McIntyre had 13 assists.
 
For OW, sophomore setter Kyraleigh Zinnel (Levittown, N.Y.) had 19 assists, six digs and three aces, freshman setter Kristin Grieshaber (Levittown, N.Y.) finished with 12 assists, five kills, eight digs and four aces. McKenzie hit .312 with seven kills (7-2-16) and four blocks (two solo) and freshman middle Danielle Corsi (Seaford, N.Y.) hit .500 (5-1-8).
 
OF NOTE:

• Series vs. William Paterson: 53rd meeting; WP leads, 31-12, and has won the last 10 meetings.
• Series vs. Old Westbury: 15th meeting; NJCU leads, 12-3.
• Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) reached double figures in kills for the ninth time in her career (fifth time in 2017).
• Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) reached double figures in digs for the 27th in her career (10th time in 2017).
• Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) had 10 or more digs for the sixth and seventh times this season and 14 and 15th times in her career. She notched 20 or more digs for a third time in her career.
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) had double digit digs for the fourth time in her career (second time in 2017).

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU plays its final home match and final New Jersey Athletic Conference contest of the season on Tuesday, October 24 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Montclair State (12-16, 3-4 NJAC) at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court). It will be the 34th meeting. MSU leads the all-time series, 25-8, including a 3-1 win last year, and has won the last eight meetings. It will be Senior Night and NJCU will honor its lone senior, four-year starting setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby). The Gothic Knight captain will enter her last home match with 2,357 assists and 189 service aces.

 
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