JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team faced off with New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponent Montclair State University on the road on Tuesday evening, Oct. 4. The Gothic Knights posed a tough threat to the hosting Red Hawks all night long, but the home team bested NJCU in three sets (25-16. 25-20, 25-15).

The Green and Gold (10-7, 2-3 NJAC) started off strong against Montclair State (8-8, 2-3 NJAC) by getting out to a 9-9 tie to begin the first set as six different Gothic Knights factored into the first nine NJCU points. However, the Red Hawks took an 8-1 run to make it 17-10 to extend the gap. Jersey City trimmed it back to a four-point game at 19-14 with a couple of kills and an ace, but MSU took seven of the final nine rallies to win the first set, 25-16.

In the second set, the two squads tied it up early at 7-7 before the Red Hawks stretched it out to a 16-9 lead. However, trailing by eight, NJCU went ona 5-1 run to make it a four-point, 24-20 game, including a kill and an ace over that span. Montclair, however, took the final point to win the set, 25-20. The third and final set was all Montclair before the Gothic Knights surged momentum trailing 16-6, going on a 7-2 run to trim it to a five-point deficit. They notched a couple of kills and an ace during this stretch. The Red Hawks finished out the night thereafter to take the set, 25-15, and the match, 3-0.

Highlights:
- Sophomore middle blocker Dayshia Espinosa (El Paso, Texas/Pebble Hills) ended her night with a career-best four blocks (ties the match high) and a dig.
- Sophomore outside hitter Rachael Pharo (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) tied for the team high with five kills to go with a team-high-tying eight digs, two assists, one ace and a block.
- Reigning NJAC Player of the Week, senior right-side hitter Paola Toledo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Colegio Catolico San Rafael) also have five kills and eight digs, chipping in a pair of blocks and an assist, as well.
- Senior middle blocker Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) finished with four kills and a pair of blocks, while sophomore outside hitter Brenda Gonzalez (Union City, N.J./Dickinson) also tied the match-high in kills (5), adding three digs.
- Junior setter Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) led the team with 17 assists to go with four digs, two blocks and an ace.
- Senior libero Katrina Nguyendon (Union, N.J./Union) led NJCU with three aces while finishing with three digs and two assists.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights take a quick break from NJAC play for the remainder of the week. They first travel out to Reading, Pa., for a 6:00 p.m. meeting with Penn State Berks on Thursday, Oct. 6, and then return to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Friday night, Oct. 7, for a 7:00 p.m. clash with Albright College.