Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team, thanks to valiant efforts from first-year Gothic Knight hitters Paola Toledo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Colegio Catolico San Rafael) and Rachael Pharo (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), started off the 2021 campaign with as strong of a performance in recent memory. NJCU, hosting the 2021 Jersey City Invitational at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) — which was ultimately a tri-match — played in the first contest of the day and defeated Bryn Mawr College in three sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-15). The Gothic Knights also faced off with FDU-Florham in the third and final match of the day and topped the Devils in four hard-fought sets (28-26, 14-25, 25-21, 25-16). Toledo finished with 31 kills, while Pharo notched 25.

Jersey City (2-0) kicked off the morning with an 11:00 a.m. start against the Owls (0-3) and did not disappoint in the season-opener. Despite a brief slow start to the first set and some trials in the second, NJCU put it together and controlled the pace and momentum throughout en route to the straight-set victory. Toledo dominated in her Gothic Knights debut, leading all players with a match-best 13 kills on 24 swings with five errors (.333). She was aided, as mentioned, by Pharo. The rookie was very efficient with 12 kills and just one error on 25 swings (.440).. Sophomore setter Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) set up all her hitters well during the match and finished with 31 assists and two apiece in kills, digs and aces.

Match 1 Highlights:
- Junior middle blocker Xarial Chandkler had a strong match after missing last season. She totaled a .500 hitting percentage with five kills on eight swings and one error.
- As a team, NJCU out-dueled Byrn Mawr to the tune of a team hitting percentage of .336.
- Defensively, Pharo led the team with seven digs, while senior Madeline Lopez (Elizabeth, N.J./Hudson Catholic) had six digs from the libero spot. Senior Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) registered four total blocks, a game high.

The Gothic Knights second match, against the Devils, was a much more competitive battle. NJCU took the first set in thrilling fashion, 28-26, but fell quickly in the second set. However, the squad bounced back in a big way and took the third and fourth sets to earn the victory. Lore dished out 39 assists during the match, and led all players with the first double-double of her career, a match-high 13 digs. Pharo and sophomore Ashley Jimenez (West New York, N.J./Memorial) each notched double-digit digs for the first time in their careers with 11 apiece. Pharo also had 13 kills, while Toledo registered 18 kills on 34 swings with three errors (.441).

Match 2 Highlights:
- Chandler finished with seven error-less kills on 12 swings (.583) to go with five digs and four aces.
- Seickendick continued to control the net and finished with four more total blocks, chipping in four kills.

What's Next:
NJCU returns to action on Tuesday night, September 7, at the JMAC when the City College of New York comes to town for a 7:00 p.m. match. Follow all the action live on GothicVision.