JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's volleyball team dropped a non-conference matchup to Bard University on Monday, Nov. 4, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center, falling 3-1.

Bard (5-20) capitalized on a .240 hitting percentage compared to NJCU's (.054), finishing with a dominant 49-31 advantage in kills. The Raptors also outpaced the Gothic Knights in assists (42-21), service aces (10-7), digs (60-54), and blocks (7-3).

Senior outside hitter Brenda Gonzalez (Union City, N.J./Dickinson) led NJCU with 11 points, including nine kills and 10 digs, while freshman setter Keyanni Overstreet (Port Arthur, Texas/Sabine Pass) added 13 assists and three digs. Sophomore setter Genesis Hibbard (Groesbeck, Texas/Morristown (N.J.)) contributed six assists, six digs, and a season-high four service aces. Junior outside hitter Marina Millet also had a strong showing, with 11 digs and six kills. Freshman middle blocker Jaelyn Martinez (Lakewood, Fla./Lake Gibson) recorded two block solos, and defensive specialists Jenilsa Pichardo (Union City, N.J./Union City) and Carly Everett (York, Pa./York Catholic) both finished with nine digs.

The first set was a back-and-forth affair, with NJCU trailing 8-6 before a key substitution by head coach Jordan Robinson. Hibbard entered and sparked a 9-0 run, including four service aces, forcing Bard to call a timeout. However, the Raptors responded with a 5-0 run of their own and ultimately took the set 25-23.
In the second set, Bard dominated throughout, recording 14 kills to NJCU's four. The Raptors cruised to a 25-12 victory, taking a 2-0 match lead.
NJCU bounced back in the third set, finding their rhythm offensively with 12 kills. Gonzalez, Millet, and sophomore middle blocker Brianna Melanson (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) each contributed three kills, leading the Gothic Knights to a 25-21 win.

However, Bard regained control in the fourth set, leading wire-to-wire. Despite NJCU's efforts to close the gap, Bard capitalized on the Gothic Knights' attack errors, scoring eight points off mistakes. The Raptors sealed the match with a 25-15 win, securing the 3-1 victory.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights will return to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action on Tuesday, Nov. 5, as they travel to Rowan University for a 7:00 p.m. matchup.

For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University sports, visit njcugothicknights.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Gothic Knights news by following NJCU Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.