MONTCLAIR, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team opened up its abbreviated 2020-21 season tonight, Thursday, March 4, with a tough loss on the road at New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe Montclair State University, 3-0 (25-6, 25-16, 25-17).

The Gothic Knights (0-1, 0-1 NJAC) started off slow with a tough first set against the Red Hawks (1-1, 1-1 NJAC), but came back with strong second and third sets. NJCU was able to keep the second set to a nine-point defecit as freshman Alexis Newsome (Watchung, N.J./Hudson Catholic) notched three kills on five swings with no errors (.400). Fellow rookie Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) also dished out five assists in the set.

Set number three was the strongest of the night for the Gothic Knights, falling by just eight points to MSU. Freshman Taylor-Michelle Coriolan (Roselle, N.J./Roselle Catholic) and junior Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) each notched three kills, while Lore and fellow rookie setter Daniella Martinez (Park Ridge, N.J./Academy of the Holy Angels) each registered a trio of assists.

Highlights:
- Lore finished with a team-high 10 assists.
- Sophomore Katrina Nguyendon (Union, N.J./Union) led NJCU with seven digs.
- Coriolan and Seickendick each finished with five kills.

The Gothic Knights return to action this coming Tuesday night, March 9, at 7:00 p.m. when they open up home play for the season against Rutgers-Camden at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). Follow all the action live on GothicVision at www.NJCUGothicKnights.com/GothicVision.