GALLOWAY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team closed out its regular-season on Tuesday night, March 16, with a tough 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-8) loss on the road to nationally No. 21 ranked Stockton University in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) competition.
Despite the loss, the Gothic Knights (1-4, 1-4 NJAC) clinched the #5 seed in the six-team 2020-21 NJAC Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament for the first time since the 2008 season. They will face #4 Rutgers-Camden in Camden, N.J., on Thursday, March 18, at 7:00 p.m., with the winner advancing to face the top-seed Stockton Ospreys (5-0, 5-0 NJAC) in the semifinal on Tuesday, March 23, at 7:00 p.m. in Galloway.
Tonight's match started off well as NJCU stayed with Stockton early on, trailing 7-6 in the first set thanks to a 4-1 run to get to that point. Freshman
Taylor-Michelle Coriolan (Roselle, N.J./Roselle Catholic) started with a kill, followed by an ace from fellow rookie
Ashley Jimenez (West New York, N.J./Memorial). After an Osprey point, a pair of juniors in
Yaidettive Vega (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) and
Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) notched one kill each. However, Stockton used an 8-1 run to stretch its lead back out, and although the Gothic Knights stayed with them almost point-for-point for the remainder of the set, they were never able to surmount the difference as the home team took the 25-15 game.
NJCU was never able to get anything strung together in sets two (25-9) and three (25-8) as the Ospreys clinched the #1 overall seed in the NJAC Tournament.
Highlights:
- Vega led the Gothic Knights with six kills.
- Freshman setter
Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) led NJCU with 10 assists and a pair of digs.
- Jimenez had a pair of aces, two kills and a block.
- Junior libero
Madeline Lopez (Elizabeth, N.J./Hudson Catholic) led all players with a match-high nine digs, adding two assists.
What's Next:
As mentioned, the Gothic Knights return to the court next Tuesday for their NJAC Quarterfinal match with the Scarlet Raptors. The two squads faced off at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) earlier this season, with Rutgers-Camden taking it 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-7). Coriolan had a match-high eight kills that night and will look to continue her strong play against the Scarlet Raptors next week. Be sure to check back with NJCUGothicKnights.com for the live stats and video links from Rutgers-Camden as they become available.
