JERSEY CITY, N.J. — In front of a large crowd on "Family Night," the New Jersey City University women's volleyball squad took on the defending New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) champions in Stockton University on Tuesday night, Oct. 19, on Charlie Brown Court at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). The visiting Ospreys took the first two sets before NJCU made a run in the third set, however it was not to be for the Gothic Knights as the road team took the 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-21) win.

Jersey City (13-7, 1-6 NJAC) hit the ball well against Stockton (11-15, 5-2 NJAC) on the night, finishing with just seven errors on 79 swings with 24 total kills for a .215 hitting percentage. However the Ospreys finished with 53 kills on 100 swings with 14 errors (.390) for the more effective night offensively. NJCU, led by a trio of upperclassmen, outblocked the Ospreys at the net, 4-1.

Junior right-side hitter Paola Toledo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Colegio Catolico San Rafael) led the Gothic Knights offensively with seven kills and a pair of blocks to finish with 8.0 points. Another junior, middle blocker Xarial Chandler (East Orange, N.J./University) was extremely efficient on the night as she notched six error-less kills on 14 swings (.429) to go with a pair of blocks, including a solo stuff. The third upperclassmen to carry the Knights against Stockton was senior middle blocker Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic), who registered five kills and one error on 10 swings (.400) and a block. Sophomore setter Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) dished out a team-high 18 assists on the night, adding three kills on nine swings (.333) to go with a solo block and two digs.

Defensively, sophomore Ashley Jimenez (West New York, N.J./Memorial) got the start on the outside and although notching just one kill, the hitter recorded a team-best nine digs along with an ace. Senior Krista Bartko (Edison, N.J./Edison) got the nod in the libero spot on the night and finished with a kill and three digs.

The highlight of the night, set number three, saw Stockton jump out to a 5-2 lead before NJCU went on a 4-0 run to take an early 6-5 lead — sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Sanchez (West New York, N.J./Memorial) served for three of the points, including one ace. For the remainder of the set, every time the Ospreys made some offensive headway, the Gothic Knights were right there to make it even once again.

Trailing 7-6, NJCU made a quick 3-1 run, including two kills from Chandler, to take the 9-8 advantage. Then, down 11-9, a 4-2 run for the Knights made it 13-13, including a pair of kills from Seickendick. Once again, NJCU found itself down 17-14, but a well-timed timeout gave the Knights some momentum and they made it an 18-17 match, including another kill for Chandler. Unfortunately, NJCU was unable to get closer than two points for the remainder of the match and Stockton came away victorious.

What's Next:
Looking to get back in the win column after Stockton interrupted a two-match victorious streak, the Gothic Knights head up to Scranton, Pa., for a tri-match on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 23, hosted by Scranton University. NJCU first faces Wilkes University on neutral ground at 2:00 p.m. followed by the hosting Royals at 4:00 p.m.