BRYN ATHYN, Pa. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University split a season-opening tri-match, losing their first match to Manhattanville College, 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-7) before rebounding against host over Bryn Athyn by a return 3-0 scoreline (25-21, 25-23, 25-20) on September 1.
 
Junior opposite Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) was the top individual performer for NJCU (1-1), producing 22 kills in six sets, including 13 kills in the second match.
 
Match 1: Manhattanville College 3, New Jersey City 0
The Gothic Knights started off the afternoon well, taking an 11-8 lead in the first set. Their success came quick but the team couldn't quite maintain. "I think once that initial burst of energy wore off we didn't manufacture our own energy," head coach Robert Cole said. "Against a good team like Manhattanville, you can't play flat and expect to be in the game."
 
The Valiants rattled off the next six points before an NJCU timeout. The Valiants got one more quick point after the timeout, and those seven consecutive points ended up being the difference in a 25-18 first set.
 
In the second set, the Knights found themselves in an early hole, as Manhattanville recorded the first six points of the set, half of which came off NJCU errors. Once again, that one run was the difference, as the Valiants took the second set by a score of 25-19. The two teams played to a dead heat after that early run from Manhattanville.
 
The second set was the Knights best set of the opening match, with their highest number of kills (11) and lowest number of errors.
The third set was all Manhattanville, as they rolled to a 25-7 third set victory.
 
Florimon led NJCU with nine kills and senior outside hitter Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) tallied 16 digs and six kills. Senior setter Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) finished with 18 assists and two service aces.
 
The Valiants hit .271, putting away 32 kills against nine errors. Austen Brauer led the way with 12 kills, hitting .324 (one error). Laura Livolsi finished with nine kills and 12 digs.
 
Match 2: New Jersey City 3, Bryn Athyn College 0
The Gothic Knights bounced back with aplomb in their second match of the day, sweeping the hosting Lions 25-21, 25-23, 25-20.
 
"Our captains took the team aside after the first match and talked to them a bit," Cole explained.  "I think collectively we played with more energy in the second match."
 
The Knights set the tone early, capturing the first three and six of the first nine points in the first set. However, it was a six-point run in the middle of the set, on the strength of four Lion errors, that helped NJCU pull away for the opening set win.
 
The second set ended up being the closest set NJCU would play in either of their matches on Saturday. The set was tied nine separate times, the latest of which came at 22-22. The Knights pulled out the win thanks to a late ace from Ware and a couple Lion errors.
 
The third set saw the two teams trade blows early on, with the set tied 12-12 at one point, but the Knights grinded out the result in the end, taking the set 25-20.
 
Florimon once again led the Knights, with a career-high 13 kills, hitting .214 with nine digs. Junior middle hitter Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) was right behind her with 12 kills while hitting .375 with 12 kills (12-3-24), 13 digs and four aces.
 
Also for NJCU, Ware once again performed admirably, tallying 33 assists while chipping in seven digs and four more aces. O'Donnell again defended 16 digs, adding seven kills and junior Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) finished with 10 digs.
 
The Knights had both double-digit kills and single-digit errors in each of their three sets in the match two victory.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series vs. Manhattanville: The Valiants leads the all-time series, 8-4.
• Series vs. Bryn Athyn: NJCU leads the all-time series, 2-1.
• Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) collected her fourth career double-figure kills effort.
• Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) collected her third career double-figure kills effort.
• Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) reached double figures in digs for the 29th and 30th times in her career.
• Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) had 10 or more digs for the 16th time in her career.

 
UP NEXT:
The Knights travel to Langhorne, Pa. to face off with Cairn University on Thursday, September 6. Cairn leads the all-time series, 3-0; it will be the first meeting since September 15, 2012.
 
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