BRONXVILLE, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team fell back to .500 on the season after dropping both ends of a non-conference tri-match on September 14. In a neutral court contest, Pratt Institute swept NJCU, 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-16) before Sarah Lawrence College, the host team, edged the Gothic Knights, 3-1 (25-13, 25-17, 13-25, 26-24). 
 
NJCU is now 4-4 on the season. The losses were the first-ever for NJCU against either Pratt or Sarah Lawrence.
 
MATCH 1: Pratt 3, NJCU 0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-16):
Pratt posted double figures in kills in all three sets and was never challenged by the Knights. The Cannoneers had a 40-12 differential in kills, hitting .272 as a team (40-15-92) and limited the Knights to a negative attack line (12-15-67, -.045) for the first time this year.
 
Pratt (5-4) was led by freshman middle hitter Elizabeth Hannah (Tampa, Fla.) who had a dominant effort, hitting a colossal .571 with 10 kills (10-2-14). Junior outside hitter Paola Beniquez (Carolina, Puerto Rico) added nine kills (.273, 9-3-22), 11 digs and seven aces.
 
No Gothic Knight had more than five kills. In a lackluster effort for the Knights, freshman Xarial Chandler (East Orange, NJ/University) was NJCU's top performer with six digs, four kills and two blocks.
 
Also for Pratt, sophomore outside/middle Shannon Corr (Copiague, N.Y.) hit .389 with eight kills (8-1-18) while junior Badesim Kubak (Istanbul, Turkey) (16 assists) and sophomore Avery Toomes (Houston, Texas) (15 assists, 8 digs, 4 aces) controlled the setting game. Freshman defensive specialist Deanna Colondona (Manorville, N.Y.) finished with 10 digs. Pratt never trailed in the final two sets.
 
MATCH 2: Sarah Lawrence 3, NJCU 1 (25-13, 25-17, 13-25, 26-24):
After dropping the first two sets, NJCU routed Sarah Lawrence (5-1) in game three and had a chance to force a fifth set. In a fourth game with 11 ties and six lead changes, SLC had two match points, leading, 24-22, before the Knights evened it at 24-24. But an ace by junior outside Melanie Coleman (Forest Hills, N.Y.) landed a kill and freshman libero Clarise Steiner (Mansfield, Ohio)'s ace in extra points ended it.
 
NJCU held a 36-33 edge in kills and lost despite four players producing double figures in digs. Freshman Katrina Nguyendon (Union, NJ/Union) registered her fifth double-double of the season with 29 assists, 10 digs and three aces while freshman Nicole Pittar (Union City, NJ/Union City) defended 23 digs. Senior outside Stephanie Duque (West New York, NJ/Memorial) registered a match-high 12 kills.
 
Also for the Knights, freshman libero Bella Sunahara (Parker, CO/Legend) dished 17 digs. Chandler finished with 10 digs and eight kills. Sophomore outside hitter Lola Vega tallied nine kills.
 
For the Gryphons, Steiner defended 23 digs Coleman had 11 kills to lead her squad but had 10 attack errors. Senior Lauren Kilroy (King of Prussia, Pa.) was next with nine kills and 17 digs. No other SLC player had more than four kills. Sophomore setter Isabel Pecora (Potsdam, N.Y.) handed out 21 assists.
 
For the first time this season, NJCU had more service errors (13) than aces (8). NJCU also committed 30 attack errors to fall out of contention.
 
 OF NOTE:

• Series vs. Pratt: Third meeting. NJCU leads, 2-1.
• Series vs. Sarah Lawrence: 10th meeting. NJCU leads, 9-1.

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU will begin New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, September 17 at 7 p.m. when it meets Ramapo College at the Bill Bradley Center in Mahwah, N.J.
 
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