JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's volleyball team, guided by fourth-year head coach Jordan Robinson, began its 2024 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30, with a home-opening non-conference tri-match on Coach Charlie Brown Court at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). NJCU welcomes John Jay College and the University of Mount Saint Vincent to the West Side for a trio of matches and all three went the minimum three sets. After falling to the Bloodhounds in the day's first clash, the Gothic Knights bounced back to finish up in the early evening with a 3-0 sweep of their own against the Dolphins.

Match 1 | John Jay 3, NJCU 0 (25-14, 25-16, 27-25):
The Green and Gold (1-1) got off to a slow start against John Jay (2-0), falling behind 15-6 in the first set. NJCU bounced back via a 6-1 run, including kills from junior right-side Kiki Lugo (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and junior outside Marina Millett (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney), as well as two aces from senior captain outside Brenda Gonzalez (Union City, N.J./Dickinson), to make it 16-12. However, the Bloodhounds finished up by winning nine of the next 11 points to take the 1-0 advantage. John Jay again took a 7-2 lead to start the second before Lugo, plus a couple Bloodhound errors, made it 7-5. Then, trailing 10-5, NJCU won four straight points, including two aces from Lugo, to make it 10-9. It was the visitors that jumped out in front again, though, making it a 17-10 set score. The Gothic Knights fired back to make it 20-16, including another kill from Lugo, but John Jay took the set, 25-16.

Things finally started to click for NJCU in the final set, which went to extra points before the Bloodhounds won it, 27-25. This time it was the Gothic Knights who took the early 7-4 lead, thanks in part to a kill and an ace from Lugo, as well as a kill and a block assist from sophomore outside Taylor Riccio (Nutley, N.J./Paramus Catholic). John Jay never quite let up, however, always maintaining a close margin ot two or three points. Then, trailing 15-12, the visitors jumped out to a 16-15 lead. The teams then traded points back and forth for the remainder of the set before John Jay had the first set/match point at 23-21. NJCU answered by winning three straight, including a kill from sophomore middle Brianna Melanson (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick), to make it 24-23 and make it set point themselves. Eventually, the two teams were tied at 25-25 before the Bloodhounds won the final two points to take the set and match.

Match 2 | NJCU 3, UMSV 0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-16):
This one was all NJCU as the home squad closed out the day with its first victory of the season, topping the Dolphins (0-2) in three sets. UMSV took control early, however, and led 8-3 in the first set. The Gothic Knights regrouped and eventually tied it up at 10-10, thanks partly to two kills and an ace from Lugo. Then, trailing 12-10, NJCU won six in a row to go up 16-12, including a couple of aces from rookie setter Keyanni Overstreet (Port Aurther, Texas/Sabine Pass). The Dolphins cut it back down to a two-point set at 21-19, but the Green and Gold recovered and won four of the last five, with kills from four different players, to take the first set, 25-20.

Set number two was a doozy as the teams went back and forth to start, with UMSV holding an early 11-9 lead. NJCU answered with a 5-0 run, including two kills each for Gonzalez and Lugo. The Dolphins responded with five straight of their own to go back up, 16-14. AGAIN, the Green and Gold answered with the same to take a 19-16 lead, including two kills from Millett and two aces from Gonzalez. Both squad alternated from that point forward until we were knotted up at 25-25. Gonzalez closed out the set with a kill and an ace to make it 2-0, NJCU.

Finally, set number three was all NJCU to start as the home squad took an early 6-1 advantage, including three kills and an ace for Gonzalez. The Dolphins answered, though, making it 8-7 with NJCU still ahead. The Gothic Knights grabbed a hold of the momentum at that point and eventually went on a 13-4 run to take a 20-11 lead. Over that stretch, Gonzalez and junior middle Kristen Davis (Orlando, Fla./Real Life Christian Academy) each had two kills and a block assist. After a few back-and-forth rallies, NJCU still led 23-16 and won the final two points of the match on a kill from Gonzalez and a combined block from Davis and Overstreet to close things out with a bang.

Highlights:
- Gonzalez led NJCU in kills (18) on the day, while Lugo (17) was right behind her. Lugo had a team-high 10 against the Bloodhounds, while Gonzalez had a match-best and career-high-tying 16 versus the Dolphins. Both had six aces a piece, as well. Gonzales was second on the squad in digs (21) and tied for first in total blocks (3), while Lugo had 14 digs.
- Melanson and Millett each had eight kills over the two matches, while the former had three blocks and the latter had 16 digs.
- Overstreet dished out 38 assists (7.60/set) over her five sets on the day, adding three aces and 18 digs (3.60/set — second on the team).
- Sophomore Jenilsa Pichardo (Union City, N.J./Union City) led the squad in total digs (22) and digs/set (4.40), seeing action in five of six sets on the day. She notched a career- and match-best 14 against the Dolphins.

Up Next:
NJCU hits the road on Labor Day this Monday, Sept. 2, for the squad's first road titl of the season. The Gothic Knights will be in Bronxville, N.Y., to take on Sarah Lawrence College beginning at 7:00 p.m. Coverage will be available the day of the game at www.NJCUGothicKnights.com/coverage.