JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior captain and setter Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) became the fourth player in school history to distribute 2,000 career assists when the milestone came late in the first set as the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team opened its home schedule with a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-17, 25-22) of the College of Staten Island on September 5 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
Staten Island twice drew within a point of the Gothic Knights late in the first and third sets before NJCU (2-3) dug deep when it mattered to win in three games. CSI dropped to 0-2.
 
McIntyre's 2000th assist gave NJCU a 20-16 lead in the first set and she distributed 26 on the day to give her 2,016 for her career. She added six digs and two aces.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) reached double figures in kills for the first time as a collegian with 11 and hit .318 win the win (11-4-22) with eight digs. Sophomore opposite Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) added five kills.
 
NJCU had more than  twice as many kills as CSI, a 35-17 differential, and the Knights hit .130 as a team while limiting the Dolphins to negative attack territory at -.025 (17-19-79). Freshman middle hitter Teresa Maresca (Staten Island, N.Y.) was the top player for the Dolphins with five kills, four aces and one solo block.
 
The Gothic Knights had 14 kills in the first set and 13 more in the third. When CSI tallied from a 22-17 deficit with four straight points (three on kills) to draw within 22-21, junior outside hitter Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison)'s timely winner created separation before sophomore outside hitter Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) delivered a winner on set point.
 
Trailing 10-8 in game two, NJCU cruised from there, scoring five straight points behind the serve of sophomore defensive specialist Kayla Clarke (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Regional) for a 13-10 lead. After an error gave CSI a sideout, NJCU countered with another 7-0 run for a combined 12-1 outburst to claim an insurmountable 20-11 margin.
 
In game three, NJCU never trailed, but the Dolphins hung on and drew within a point, 21-20, late in the period. The Knights answered again. McIntyre had a sneaky attack on two and Rayo tallied a kill for a 23-20 edge. Kills by O'Donnell and Florimon sealed the win.

 
QUOTABLE KNIGHTS:
Head Coach Robert Cole on Rachel McIntyre (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby)'s milestone: "We're proud of Rachel and all the accomplishments she's had over the course of her career on and off the court. She's certainly been a constant from Day 1 here, and for her to be able to do this during a win makes it that much sweeter."
 
OF NOTE:

• Bayonne Bridge Series: NJCU leads, 13-6.
• McIntyre is fourth all-time on the assists list behind Alex Johanesen (2,750 assists, 368 sets, 2007-10), Nadia DaSilva Ducos (2,677 assists, 417 sets, 2004-07) and Sofia Gutierrez (2,292 assists, 269 sets, 2005-06).
• Ayleen Pittar (Union City, NJ/Union City), who was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Scranton Invitational, did not play.
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial)'s previous career high for kills was nine at St. Joseph's (LI) in four sets on October 15, 2016.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU is home again on Thursday, September 7 at 7 p.m. when it hosts York College (NY). NJCU leads the all-time series with the Cardinals, 16-1 and has won the last 15 meetings since 1991.

 
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