JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Paced by the New Jersey Athletic Conference leader in kills, Rutgers-Newark held off the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-19) on October 17 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
Senior outside hitter Comfort Akinbo (Woodbridge, N.J.) came in as the league's leader with 4.01 kills per set and dominated the match with 14 kills in 25 swings and just one attack error to hit .520 overall. The rest of the Scarlet Raiders squad had just 20 other kills. RUN improved its record to 14-8 overall and 3-3 in the NJAC. The Gothic Knights dropped to 6-12 (0-6 NJAC).
 
Freshman outside hitter Xarial Chandler (East Orange, NJ/University) paced NJCU with nine kills, eight digs and a .292 attack percentage (9-2-24) and rookie libero Bella Sunahara (Parker, CO/Legend) had seven digs. Senior outside Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) finished with six kills and two blocks. Freshman setter Katrina Nguyendon (Union, NJ/Union) tallied 20 assists
 
For RUN, junior setter Karly Gregoire (Linden, N.J.) had 28 assists and seven digs while senior libero Brione Lockett (Elizabeth, N.J.) defended 10 digs. Senior outside Jessica Moy (East Brunswick, N.J.) contributed eight kills and sophomore middle hitter Meredith Moore (Jersey City, N.J.) finished with four blocks. Senior defensive specialist Analis Capobianco (Old Bridge, N.J.) landed four of Newark's 11 service aces.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• NJCU led the opening set, 9-6, before Rutgers-Newark reeled off the next four points to claim the lead (10-9) and after a kill by sophomore outside Lola Vega evened it at 10-10, the Scarlet Raiders uncorked the next seven points to claim a 17-10 advantage, pulling away. In all, it was an 11-1 run in favor of RUN. Capobianco served three consecutive aces during the 7-0 spurt and four in total.
• NJCU scored the first five points in game two but could not maintain the lead, with RUN evening it at 7-7. NJCU scored the next three points before the Raiders countered to tie it at 11-11. After the sides continued to sideout and force three more ties, three different Raiders landed kills as the visitors took an 18-14 edge. NJCU countered to tie it at 19-19. But in a seesaw set, Rutgers-Newark scored the next four points to build a 23-10 lead and clinched the game on an ace.
• In the third set RUN jumped in front 5-2 but this time NJCU played from behind and scored five consecutive points to take an 8-6 cushion. Neither side could gain separation. NJCU led 14-12, RUN scored the next four to gain a 16-14 lead, thanks to back-to-back kills from Moy, and NJCU answered to even it at 17-17. After a Raider ace and a later kill by Akinbo made it 20-17, NJCU cut it to 20-19 when Chandler landed a kill and rookie defensive specialist Laila Durrani (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep via Dickinson) unleashed an ace off the bench. But Rutgers-Newark scored the final five points of the set to seal it. Lockett provided a pair of aces and kills by Akinbo bookended the five-point stretch.

 
  OF NOTE:

• Series: 50th meeting. Rutgers-Newark leads all-time, 39-11.
• Rutgers-Newark had a slim 34-28 margin in kills. The Raiders had 13 kills in the third set—the most by either team in any set. 

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU plays the second of four consecutive home dates on Saturday, October 19 when it hosts a non-conference tri-match against Wilkes and Baruch, beginning at 11 a.m. with NJCU/Wilkes and concluding with NJCU/Baruch at 3 p.m. Baruch and Wilkes will play a neutral court match at 1 p.m.

 
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