CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior outside hitter Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) reached double figures in kills in the final match of her four-year Gothic Knight career and produced her ninth career double-double to lead the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 27-25) non-conference road victory over Clarks Summit University on October 30.
 
NJCU finishes its 37th season of intercollegiate women's volleyball with an 8-16 ledger as four different Knights had 10+ digs. The Defenders are 9-18.
 
Freshman libero Bella Sunahara (Parker, CO/Legend), the NJAC Rookie of the Week capped a sizzling end to her first college season with 20 more digs—her seventh consecutive effort with at least 20 digs. Duque had 13 digs and 11 kills and freshman outside hitter Xarial Chandler (East Orange, NJ/University) added nine kills, 13 digs and two aces, hitting .226 (9-2-31). She was also a perfect 29-for-29 on serve receptions.
 
Freshman setter Katrina Nguyendon (Union, NJ/Union) provided 23 assists, eight digs and three aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Madeline Lopez (Elizabeth, NJ/Hudson Catholic) finished with 13 digs.
 
In defeat for the Defenders, senior middle Beth Muhlenkamp (Bradfordwoods, Pa.) matched Duque with 11 kills, adding 14 digs. Senior middle hitter Kara Brown (Elyria, Ohio) had 15 digs, six kills and four solo blocks. Senior setter Alexa Wagner handed out 24 assists and senior outside Mikaela Meaders (Springville, Pa.) had 11 digs.
 
NJCU trailed 12-8 in the opening set before rallying to take the lead but not more than two points until the very end. Leading 21-20, the Knights scored the final four points to win 25-20. NJCU opened a 7-1 lead in game two and still led 19-13 before CSU closed within two, 22-20. A kill by Duque and a solo block by senior Diana Trochimowicz (Linden, NJ/Linden) helped close it out, 25-21.
 
NJCU trailed 10-5 in the third set before bouncing back to make it a see-saw game. The Knights led 23-20 before a kill and two errors evened it at 23-23. After trading ties at 24-24 and 25-25, Duque gave NJCU the lead for good with a kill before a ball handling error ended it.
 
 OF NOTE:

• Series vs. Clarks Summit/Baptist Bible: Second meeting. NJCU leads, 2-0, also winning on October 6, 2016.
• Sunahara tallied her ninth career match with 20+ digs and she has reached double figures in digs in 16 of her 22 career matches. 
• Chandler reached double digits in digs for the 10th time this season.
• Lopez reached double figures in digs for the fifth time in her career (fourth time in 2019).

 
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