MONTCLAIR, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | A healthy 43-14 edge in kills led the way for Montclair State University (6-4, 1-1 NJAC) over New Jersey City University (3-7, 0-2 NJAC) in straight sets (25-14, 25-14, 25-11) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's volleyball match at the Panzer Athletic Center on September 18. The Red Hawks used a balanced attack, spearheaded by senior setter Ashley Griffith (33 assists, .452 setting percentage), to topple the Gothic Knights.
 
The Red Hawks led wire-to-wire in all three sets. Montclair posted an impressive .309 attack percentage (43-14-94) while limiting NJCU to a -.066 percentage with 19 errors. The Knights, however, finished with more attack errors (19) than kills (14). MSU's best set was the third when it hit .385.
 
The second set was where the Knights made their best push, rattling off four straight kills midway—three of which came from freshman outside hitter Yaidettive Vega (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson)—to cut the Montclair State lead to two at 13-11. However, the Red Hawks rattled off seven of the next nine points, forcing a NJCU timeout and ending any chance the Knights had at taking the second set.  
 
Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park), Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic), and Vega were the Knights' statistical leaders on the evening. Although it was tied for a season-low, Ware (10 assists) has now reached double-digit assists in every match she has played in 2018. Rayo was one dig shy of reaching double digits (nine). Vega led the way with her five kills despite playing in only two sets.
 
Leading the way for Montclair State were freshman hitter Carly Waterman (Verona, N.J.) with 10 kills, the aforementioned Griffith (Westwood, N.J.) and sophomore libero Alexandra Campos (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) with 10 digs. Junior outside Jillian Wilson (Voorhees, N.J.) also had a strong game at the net with five block assists and six kills. Senior right side Natalia Majkut (Cherry Hill, N.J.) hit .500 with eight kills (8-1-14).
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 35th meeting. Montclair State leads, 27-8, and has won the last 10 meetings (2009-18).

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU is back at home on Thursday, September 20 (7 p.m.) for another conference match. The Knights will take on defending NJAC champions, Kean University (9-3, 2-0 NJAC) who have won the last eight meetings between the two sides.
 
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