JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New  Jersey City University women's volleyball team's see-saw season swung into the win column for the 10th time and Gothic Knights moved back above .500 with a sweep of Lehman College, 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-21) in a non-conference match on October 6 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU (10-9), playing for the fourth time in five days, fired 17 service aces as all 12 women on the roster contributed to the victory. Lehman (2-15, lost 5) was held to a .000 attack percentage.
 
Senior setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) moved into third place in school history with 2,312 assists, passing Sofia Gutierrez (2015-06, 2292 assists) and a share of eighth place with 183 career aces. She dished 22 assists in the win.
 
Junior outside hitter Ayleen Pittar (Union City, NJ/Union City), in just one game of action, was sensational, hitting .545 with eight kills (8-2-11) while sophomore outside Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) had eight digs, six kills and four aces. Sophomore opposite Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) tallied five kills and hit .500 (5-1-8) in two games. Sophomore Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) had nine digs in two sets, splitting time between outside and libero. Freshman middle Leah Seickendick landed four aces, had two solo blocks and three kills. Junior Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) landed four aces and had seven digs in split time between libero and outside.
 
Sophomore outside Caitlin Vernon (Ozone Park, N.Y.) led Lehman with seven kills (7-3-16, .25) and sophomore middle blocker Franchesca Acevedo (New York, N.Y.) collected six kills. Sophomore setter Samantha Delgado (Warwick, N.Y.) totaled 12 assists and two aces.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In game one, Pittar was unstoppable, with several monster swings, as she hit .545 with eight kills in 11 attempts (two errors). Florimon was equally good, hitting .667 with five kills in six tries (5-1-6). They accounted for 13 of NJCU's 15 kills in the game as the Knights hit .360 (15-6-25) and Lehman was limited to three kills. NJCU served five aces in the game. NJCU led 17-9 after a kill and a solo block by sophomore middle Diana Trochimowicz (Linden, NJ/Linden) and an ace by Pittar. A floater ace by junior setter Shaylah Ware (seven assists, one set) extended it to 20-13. When Lehman pulled within three (20-10), Florimon planted back-to-back kills including one inside the 10-foot line, Duque uncorked an ace and NJCU won the game by six on a Pittar winner.
 
NJCU went to its reserves in game two and led wire-to-wire. Duque had five kills in eight swings in game two and served a pair of aces. Up 13-6 after a Duque cross court winner, NJCU just extended its lead from there. Duque destroyed a shot into the back line for a 15-6 lead, O'Donnell followed with back-to-back bullet aces, and Duque split two players with another cross court dagger (18-6). An ace by McIntyre and another Duque kill followed by a thunderous solo block by Seickendick helped the Knights seal the set.
 
In the third game, Lehman jumped out to a 9-5 early lead and surprised the Knights, jumping out in front, 14-7 before NJCU climbed back into it. An ace by Duque and a kill from junior opposite Naiomi Cintron (14-10) and two Lehman attack errors made it a two-point game (14-12). O'Donnell landed a free ball for a kill and NJCU tied it on an errant attack at 15-15. After three more ties and an NJCU sideout, Seickendick unleashed four consecutive aces to seize a 23-18 margin as the hosts secured the sweep.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 32nd meeting. NJCU leads, 22-10.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU is back on the court in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Tuesday, October 10 when it hosts Rowan University in Jersey City. It will be the 33rd meeting; Rowan leads the all-time series, 29-3, and has won the last 10 meetings.

 
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