JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team opened home New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play on Tuesday night, Sept. 20, against Kean University in front of a loud and proud crowd at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). NJCU played tight with the Cougars all evening long, making several runs in each set, but unfortunately suffered its first conference loss of the season, 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-20).

The first set was close between Jersey City (6-3, 1-1 NJAC), as the squad trailed Kean (6-4, 2-0 NJAC) by just three points at 11-8. However the Cougars controlled the pace of play for the remainder of the game to take it 25-12.

The second set was much different for the Green and Gold who, after falling behind by four points early at 7-3, made a strong run of 7-2 to take the 10-9 lead. Included in that stretch was an ace from sophomore middle Dayshia Espinosa (El Paso, Texas/Pebble Hills) and one kill apiece by senior right-side Paola Toledo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Colegio Catolico San Rafael), junior outside Ashley Jimenez (West New York, N.J./Memorial) and senior middle Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic). Kean took control again and eventually led 15-11, however NJCU trimmed it back down to one at 15-14 following a kill from sophomore outside Rachael Pharo (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) and an ace from junior setter Sydney Lore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee). Jersey City kept it close, but the Cougars managed to take the set 25-19.

The third and final set started out as all Gothic Knights as they led by as many as five points at 9-4 and continued to maintain a four-point, 12-8 lead midway through. Pharo and Lore got NJCU started, notching three kills and two aces, respectively, to combine for the squad's first five points. Toledo and sophomore outside Brenda Gonzalez (Union City, N.J./Dickinson) stretched the lead out to five with back-to-back kills. Kean, however, regrouped and went on a 12-2 run to swing momentum back in the road squad's favor to the tune of a 20-14 lead. NJCU hung around and trimmed the deficit back down to four at 23-19 — including kills by Gonzalez and Toledo — but the Cougars held on for the 25-20 set win and 3-0 match victory.

Highlights:
- Toledo tied for the match high with eight kills and just three errors on 17 swings (.294 hitting percentages), adding two digs and a block.
- Pharo finished with seven kills and a team-high-tying three digs.
- Lore led all players with a match-best 21 assists and a team-high three aces to go with a team-high-tying three digs.
- Seickendick had five kills and one error on nine swings (.444).

Up Next:
Jersey City hits the road for three matches before returning home next Tuesday, Sept. 27. NJCU faces another NJAC foe in Stockton University on Thursday evening, Sept. 22, in Galloway, N.J., at 7:00 p.m. The squad then heads back out of conference for a tri-match in Reading, Pa., on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 24, against Delaware Valley University (1:00 p.m.) and hosting Alvernia University (3:00 p.m.). The Gothic Knights then come back to the JMAC to face Rutgers-Camden this time next week for a big-time NJAC clash.