SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team improved to double-digit victories on the season following a tri-match split on the second day of the Skidmore Classic today, Saturday, Oct. 2, following a three-set loss (25-9, 25-19, 25-20) to host Skidmore College and a five-set victorious battle (18-25, 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 15-10) against the Massachusets College of Liberal Arts.

Freshman outside hitter Rachael Pharo (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) notched the second-highest kill total of the match in the 3-0 defeat to the Thoroughbreds (9-8), finishing just one shy of of her fifth double-double of the season after leading the Gothic Knights (10-3) with 11 digs. Senior libero Madeline Lopez (Elizabeth, N.J./Hudson Catholic) was just behind Pharo with 10 digs.

In the second match, juniors middle blocker Xarial Chandler (East Orange, N.J./University) and right-side hitter Paola Toled0, as well as Pharo, led the way in the five-set win over MCLA (7-6). Lopez also had an outstanding match against the Trailblazers. NJCU fell behind early in this one as MCLA took the first set, however the Gothic Knights fired back in sets two and three to take the 2-1 lead.

Tied 12-12 midway through the second set, Jersey City went on a 13-7 run to tie it up at one set apiece. NJCU started off fast in the third set, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. The Trailblazers battled back, however, and made it a 16-15. The Gothic Knights took nine of the final 14 points to make it a 2-1 match. After falling in the fourth set, Jersey City and MCLA went to a decisive fifth set. NJCU started off with a 6-2 run and was able to maintain a strong lead throughout to earn the win.

Toledo and Pharo led the Gothic Knights with 11 kills apiece. Each also had a pair of blocks, while Pharo notched 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Chandler finished with eight kills and just one error on 17 swings (.412) to go with three aces, four digs and a match- and career-best four total blocks. Lopez finished with 16 digs, a career-high six assists and a match- and career-best five aces. Sophomore setter Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) led all Gothic Knights in assists (39) and digs (career-high 17), adding two total blocks and six kills on 12 error-less swings (.500).

Senior middle blocker Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) added eight kills on 16 swings with two errors (.375) as well as a block. Defensive specialists senior Krista Bartko (Edison, N.J./Edison) and junior Katrina Nguyendon (Union, N.J./Union) recorded seven digs apiece. The former also added an assist, while the latter chipped in with an ace.

What's Next:
NJCU returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) competition on Tuesday night, Oct. 5, at 7:00 p.m. in Camden, N.J. The Gothic Knights will be in search of their second NJAC victory of the season as they take on Rutgers-Camden.