Box Score 1 | Box Score 3 JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Three freshmen playing only their second career match were instrumental in the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team winning the opening end of a non-conference weekend tri-match before narrowing losing the nightcap. Freshman setter Katrina Nguyendon (Union, NJ/Union), freshman libero Bella Sunahara (Parker, CO/Legend) and freshman outside hitter Xarial Chandler (East Orange, NJ/University) all excelled as NJCU upended Bryn Athyn College, 3-1 (25-21, 17-25, 25-18, 25-22) in the opening match on August 31 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
In the final match, Farmingdale State College (2-0) won the opening two sets before the Gothic Knights (2-1) won the third and staked a furious comeback in the fourth set to even it at 22-22, before the Rams held on to upend NJCU, 3-1 (25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23). 
 
In a neutral court match in the middle of the three contests, Farmingdale defeated Bryn Athyn, 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-20). The Lions fell to 0-2 after opening its season with two matches in Jersey City.
 
Sunahara had an awesome defensive effort, contributing 54 total digs—27 in each match—an average of 6.75 digs per game and landed three aces. Nguyendon tallied 70 assists—exactly 35 in each match—and had 11 digs in each match to produce a pair of double-doubles. Chandler compiled 25 kills and 29 digs on the day, recording double digits in kills in each contest.  
 
Sophomore outside hitter Lola Vega notched 30 kills on the day, including a career high 19 against Farmingdale, and 19 total digs.
 
MATCH 1: New Jersey City 3, Bryn Athyn 1
Sunahara had 27 digs to lead three players in double figures for NJCU which won another four-set match thanks to defense. Bryn Athyn had six more kills than NJCU (46-40) but Sunahara had a .952 serve reception percentage to set the tone and NJCU's serve accuracy was evident, with half as many errors as the Lions (14-7).
 
Nguyendon delivered 35 assists and 11 digs while Chandler hit .290 with 13 kills (13-4-31) and 20 digs. Vega chalked up her first career double-double with 13 digs and 11 kills. Senior middle blocker Diana Trochimowicz (Linden, NJ/Linden) landed eight kills and added two blocks.
 
Senior outside Hannah Dewees (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) hit .238 with 14 kills for Bryn Athyn while senior outside Lex Juritsch (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) had a double-double if 15 digs and 12 kills. Sophomore setter Janessa Lombardi (Toms River, N.J.) had 36 assists and 12 digs. Sophomore libero Chloe Levan (Whitehall, Pa.) defended 22 digs.
 
Trailing 14-11, NJCU scored eight of the next 10 points to take the game. After splitting the first two sets, NJCU hit .346 as a team in the third set with 14 kills (14-5-26) to overcome the Lions' 72 percent sideout rate in the set, to seize a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
BAC led 15-10 in the fourth set, trying to extend the match. But NJCU unleashed a 7-0 to capture the momentum. Chandler served two aces during the run and Trochimowicz had two kills. When BAC closed within 17-16, NJCU scored the next two and after Bryn Athyn again closed to 19-18, the Knights got a key sideout (20-18). Bryn Athyn rallied again and took a 22-21 lead on a kill by Juritsch. 
 
But NJCU, which came from behind twice in sets three and four in the season opener against Saint Elizabeth, did the same, scoring the next four points to clinch the win. Chandler generated two of the four points with kills, including one to tie the match.
 
MATCH 2: Farmingdale State 3, New Jersey City 1
Farmingdale State's offense was too much to overcome as the Rams held on to win in four sets. FSC had a 57-42 advantage in kills in the win and landed 11 aces.
 
The loss spoiled a sensational effort by Vega who hit .447 with a career-high 19 kills and a line of 19-2-38, while adding six digs and two blocks. Sunahara had 27 digs and two aces with Nguyendon finishing with 35 assists and 11 digs. Chandler totaled 12 kills and nine digs.
 
Sophomore outside Kate Flamio (East Islip, N.Y.) hit .382 to lead the Rams, landing 17 kills (17-4-34) and 12 digs as one of two Rams to produce a double-double. Sophomore outside Rachel McCartin (Wantagh, N.Y.) had 16 kills and 11 digs. Senior middle Kelsey Voiklis (Commack, N.Y.) finished with 12 kills and junior Alicja Zaborowska (Copiague, N.Y.) landed six kills and four aces. Freshman Lexi Cavalieri (Lake Grove, N.Y.) and junior Maria Veliz Thol (Queens, N.Y.) split setter duties, with 26 and 20 assists, respectively.
 
FSC won the first two sets and led 19-15 in the third set before NJCU rallied to score five straight points—two on kills by Vega—to take a 20-19 lead. After the Rams tied it (20-20), NJCU scored the next three points, including two more kills by Vega, before back-to-back kills by Voiklis evened it again, 23-23. Vega would finish it however, notching back-to-back winners to stake NJCU to a 25-23 win. She had six of her seven kills in the set during the late run.
 
NJCU trailed again in the fourth set, 19-14, before once again rallying. Down 22-19, three straight points—kills by Chandler and Vega and an ace by Chandler—tied it at 22-22. Flamio floored back-to-back shots for a 24-22 lead. Vega staved off one match point with a kill before FSC ultimately sealed it on a bad set.  
 
 OF NOTE:

• Series vs. Bryn Athyn: NJCU leads, 3-1.
• Series vs. Farmingdale State: NJCU leads, 9-6. First meeting since October 9, 2014.

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU plays its fourth consecutive home match to open the season on Thursday, September 5 (7 p.m.) when it hosts Cairn University. Watch live on #GothicVIsion.
 
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