ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday, Oct. 15, during a tri-match on the campus of Bard College. NJCU first fell in a three-set, tightly contested match to Skidmore College (25-22, 25-23, 25-22), before topping the hosting Raptors in four sets (25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23).
Senior right-side hitter
Paola Toledo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Colegio Catolico San Rafael) was a dominant force all day long for the Gothic Knights (12-10) reaching a season-high 20 kills in the first match and a match-best 15 kills in match number two. Against Skidmore (7-12), Toledo's match-best kill total came with just three errors on 34 swings (.500 hitting percentage).
After dropping a tight first set by three points, it looked as though Jersey City was on its way to evening it up as the squad led by as many as six at 14-8. Unfortunately, a 9-1 run for the Thoroughbreds made it 17-15. However, a 6-3 NJCU run gave the Gothic Knights a one-point, 21-20 lead. Toledo had a pair of kills during that run, while senior middle blocker
Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) notched another. Tied at 23-23, Skidmore took the last two points to take the 2-0 lead.
Set number three started off tough as the Thoroughbreds flew out to an 18-6 lead. Fortunately, the Gothic Knights fired back to the tune of a 16-5 run of their own to make it a one-point, 23-22 game in favor of Skidmore. Toledo had five kills during this stretch of play for Jersey City. Unfortunately, despite the momentum, the Thoroughbreds took the final two points to win the set and the match.
Highlights vs. Skidmore:
- Toledo added six digs and a block to her performance.
- Sophomore outside hitter
Rachael Pharo (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) had a match-best 17 digs to go with four kills and three aces.
- Junior setter
Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) led all players in assists (35) to go with eight digs, three kills and two blocks.
- Sophomore outside hitter
Brenda Gonzalez (Union City, N.J./Dickinson) had five kills and six digs.
- Senior libero
Katrina Nguyendon (Union, N.J./Union) had 12 digs, three assists and an ace.
Set #1 against Bard (5-14) started off tough as the Raptors took a four-point, 12-8 lead. Thankfully the Gothic Knights jumped out to an 11-2 run of their own to take a 19-14 lead. Seickendick (three kills), Pharo (two kills) and Nguyendon (two aces) gassed up that run primarily. NJCU eventually finished out the set, 25-21.
The second set was even to start as NJCU held a slim 15-14 lead halfway through. The Green and Gold closed out the set on a 10-1 run, however, to take it 25-15. Pharo had two kills, while Seickendick had a kill and a block during that final stretch.
After dropping the third set, NJCU led 19-16 late in the fourth. Bard took a quick 4-0 run to take a 20-19 lead and then the two squads continued to trade off points. Leading by one at 24-23, Toledo fittingly ended the day for the Gothic Knights with her 35th kill of the afternoon.
Highlights vs. Bard:
- Toledo again added six more digs, as well as two blocks and an ace.
- Pharo finished with her second double-double of the season, leading all players in digs (season-high 18) to go with 10 kills.
- Gonzalez and Seickendick each finished with eight kills and three blocks apiece.
- Lore had a match-high 38 assists to go with five digs, four kills and three blocks.
- Nguyendon had another 17 digs to go with a match-best and career-high-tying seven aces.
- Sophomore middle blocker
Dayshia Espinosa (El Paso, Texas/Pebble Hills) led all players with a career-best four blocks.
Up Next:
NJCU returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action on Tuesday evening, Oct. 18, down in Glassboro, N.J., against Rowan University. First-serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
