BROOKLYN, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University played the longest set in program history in game two—a 36-34 marathon—and persevered for a 3-0 (25-20, 36-34, 25-14) non-conference road victory over St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) to win the final match of the 2017 season on October 26.
 
The victory end the 35th season of intercollegiate women's volleyball with a 13-14 ledger—one win shy of postseason eligibility. SJCBK is 7-12.
 
Junior setter Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) had a magnificent effort, posting a double-double of 18 assists and 11 service aces, adding five digs. It was the most aces in a match by an NJCU player in 14 years and tied for the second most in any match in program history. Ware did not have an ace in game one before serving three straight in the middle of game two and eight in the third set—with seven coming during an incredible 10-0 run to close the match.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) also produced a double-double—the second of her career—pounding a match-high 13 kills (13-7-32) with 13 digs. Junior outside Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) mustered 18 digs and six kills and senior setter and captain Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) contributed 17 assists and two aces in her final match.
 
Also for NJCU, rookie middle hitter Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, NJ/Hudson Catholic) collected six kills, hitting .333 (6-2-12). Sophomore libero Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) added nine digs. NJCU had a 36-24 margin in kills in the match and Ware was responsible for 11 of NJCU's 17 aces.
 
For SJCBK, junior middle Nina DiCioccio (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied 13 assists, eight digs and seven kills and freshman middle Tiffany Garcia-Lawson (Floral Park, N.Y.) hit .357 with seven kills (7-2-14). Sophomore middle Briana Marrazzo (East Elmhurst, N.Y.) finished with 11 digs and six kills. Freshman right side Kathleen O'Dea also defended 11 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

With NJCU up by one (18-17) in the first set after four straight points by the Bears, the Knights answered with three straight aces by sophomore middle hitter Diana Trochimowicz (Linden, NJ/Linden), Duque and Seickendick for a 21-17 margin, pulling away for a 25-20 win.
 
In what was not your typical second set, the two schools traded a mind-boggling 17 ties and 10 lead changes. Down four midway through the game, Ware served her first three aces in a row to tie it at 18-18. Down later, four straight points, including kills by Trochimowicz, Seickendick and Duque put NJCU up 23-22 before Marrazzo had consecutive kills. A kill by Duque tied it at 24-24.
 
From there, the match took an unexpected twist as neither team would bend. NJCU had four set points, leading at 25-24, 28-27, 30-29 and 33-32, but each time the Bears got sideout. Meanwhile, NJCU also staved off five set points at 26-25, 27-26, 31-30, 32-31 and 34-33. The game finally ended when Duque uncorked a kill for a 34-34 tie and SJCBK committed a pair of attack errors.
 
Leading 15-14 in game three, NJCU got a kill from O'Donnell for sideout, then handed the ball to Ware, who put an exclamation mark on the season with seven aces as NJCU unleashed a 10-0 run to close the year. She landed four in a row for a 20-14 lead, O'Donnell floored a kill and Ware fired off three more aces over the final four points, including two straight to seal it, 25-14.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: NJCU leads, 5-0.
• First meeting since October 1, 2012 in Jersey City, N.J.
• The school record for aces is 15 by Melissa Pablos against Medgar Evers on October 18, 2003. Ware's 11 aces are the second most in school history, matching the 11 by Evelyn Halkias against Rutgers-Camden on October 19, 2002.
• Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) had her third career double-double (first of 2017).
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) collected her third career double-figure kills effort.
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) tallied her fifth career double digit digs total (third this season).
• Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) reached double figures in digs for the 28th in her career (11th time in 2017).

 
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