JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Montclair State University had a 39-17 margin in kills and used that offensive effort to defeat the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team, 3-0 (25-13, 25-9, 25-15) on September 24 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court). The match was NJCU's first home New Jersey Athletic Conference match this season.
 
Montclair State, the 2018 NJAC runners-up, won its fourth consecutive match—all via 3-0 results—and improved to 9-3 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC. The Gothic Knights (4-6, 0-2 NJAC) lost their fourth straight outing after a 4-2 start to the season.
 
Montclair hit over .300 in the first two sets—.323 in game one behind 15 kills (15-5-31) and .333 in the second set with 13 kills (13-2-33)—before capping the evening with 11 kills in the third set.
 
On a day where MSU had 16 different players see action, the offense was spread out with its two returning All-Conference performers leading the charge. Sophomore outside hitter Leah Higgins (Leonia, N.J.) had eight kills in two sets, hitting .333 while sophomore outside Carly Waterman (Verona, N.J.) contributing six kills.  Junior setter Megan O'Rourke (Cherry Hill, N.J.) added 24 assists and nine digs while freshman libero Maddie Valko (Montvale, N.J.) defended 14 digs.
 
In defeat, freshman libero Bella Sunahara (Parker, CO/Legend) defended 12 digs—the seventh time in 10 career matches she has reached double figures—and landed two aces. Sophomore outside Lola Vega paced the attack with five kills.
 
MSU led wire-to-wire in the opening set after jumping out to a 6-0 lead. In game two, used an 8-0 outburst early to seize an 11-4 margin that the Knights couldn't answer. MSU's early recipe proved successful again in the third game when it grabbed a 9-3 advantage and pulled away. 
 
 OF NOTE:

• Series:  36th meeting. MSU leads all-time, 28-8, and has won the last 11 matchups.

 
UP NEXT:
It gets even more challenging for NJCU on Thursday, September 26 when it meets two-time defending NJAC champion Kean University (11-6, 2-0 NJAC) in conference action at Harwood Arena in Union, N.J. First serve is 7 p.m.
 
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