JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team began its 2023 campaign on Friday, Sept. 1, with a pair of home matches. NJCU began the day as host against Alvernia University on neutral ground at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC), but fell in three sets (25-17, 25-20, 25-19). The Gothic Knights then took on Hunter College in the afternoon and took the Hawks to four sets, before falling 3-1 (25-13, 25-14, 23-25, 25-15).
 
Junior outside hitter Brenda Gonzalez (Union City, N.J./Dickinson) recorded a match-high 11 kills for NJCU (0-2) in the season-opener against Alvernia (2-0), the first of three matches at JMAC on Friday. Freshman setter Scarlett Torres (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) impressed in her collegiate volleyball debut, dishing out a match-best 16 assists. Senior libero Katrina Nguyendon (Union, N.J./Union) led all players with 22 digs, just two shy of her career high, to kick start her second season in the free player role.

In match number two for the Gothic Knights, they dropped the first two sets against Hunter (1-0), but managed to take a hard-fought third set to force a fourth before ultimately falling to Hawks there. Gonzalez again led NJCU with nine kills, while Nguyendon notched a double-double with 25 assists and 13 digs. Freshman libero Carly Everett (York, Pa./York Catholic) shined, as well, and had 13 digs on her resume.

Up next:
The Gothic Knights return to their home court on Thursday, Sept. 6, to face the visiting City College of New York Beavers. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.