NEW YORK — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team squared off with non-conference foe John Jay College on the road tonight, Oct. 19. Several Gothic Knights stuffed the stat box against the Bloodhounds, but NJCU ultimately fell in four sets (25-19, 25-14, 25-27, 25-14).

The Green and Gold (2-15) started off the first set strong, jumping out to a 6-3 lead following a trio of kills from junior hitter Brenda Gonzalez (Union City, N.J./Dickinson) — she finished the night with double-digit kills for the fifth time this season. John Jay (16-4) stormed back and ultimately got out to an 18-14 lead late. NJCU came back with four straight points, including a kill from freshman middle blocker Brianna Melanson (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) and an ace from rookie setter Scarlett Torres (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy), to tie it up at 18-18. The Bloodhounds closed out the set on a 7-1 run.

Set number two saw runs from both squads early, including four straight from NJCU to take a 7-6 lead — that featured an ace from rookie Kiley Jurcisin (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) and a kill from senior middle blocker Ashley Jimenez (West New York, N.J./Memorial). With the Gothic Knights up 9-8, it was John Jay that closed out the set with a 17-5 run to go up two sets to none.

Down big in the third set at an 18-7 deficit, it looked like the end of the night for the Green and Gold. However, the Gothic Knights turned on the jets to the tune of a 20-7 run to force extra points and ultimately win the third, 27-25, to cut the match to 2-1. Gonzalez had four more kills over that span, while Jimenez had a pair.

Things were close early in the fourth, with NJCU leading 4-3 and then trailing 6-5. John Jay then won nine straight points to go up, 15-5, and the home team eventually closed out the final set, 25-14, to end the match.

Highlights:
- Gonzalez led NJCU with 10 kills to go with a couple of blocks.
- Jimenez finished the night with seven kills, six digs and two blocks.
- Defensively, freshman libero Carly Everett (York, Pa./York Catholic) led all players with a career-best 21 digs to go with two aces and two assists.
- Joining her on the back end was sophomore Marina Millett (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney), who had four kills to go with a career-best 18 digs.
- Melanson notched six kills, as well.
- Senior setter Katrina Nguyendon (Union, N.J./Union) led the Gothic Knights with 25 assists and added eight digs, four kills and an ace.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to action this Saturday afternoon, Oct. 21, for a home non-conference match against Delaware Valley University. The match, which is also Senior Day for Jimenez, Nguyendon and defensive specialist Olivia Sanchez (West New York, N.J./Memorial), is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. first serve at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC).