CAMDEN, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's volleyball team earned a thrilling five-set victory over Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Rutgers-Camden Gymnasium. The Gothic Knights (12-3, 2-2 NJAC) outlasted the Scarlet Raptors (8-12, 0-5 NJAC) in a tightly contested New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) battle: 25-23, 17-25, 16-25, 25-22, 19-17.

Statistically, NJCU held slight advantages in kills (53-52), assists (49-47), and digs (65-64), while Rutgers-Camden led in service aces (15-13), blocks (8-6), and total points (75-72). The Scarlet Raptors also posted a higher hitting percentage at .151, compared to the Gothic Knights' .142.

Rookie standout Kai Fitzpatrick (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough High School) delivered a dominant performance, leading all players with 21 kills and a season-high 24 digs. It marked her sixth match with 20+ kills and her third with 20+ digs this season. She also contributed four service aces and a block assist. Veteran Diane Pugay (Jersey City, N.J./Infinity Institute), in her fifth year, added 13 kills, nine digs, three service aces, two assists, and a block assist.

Sophomore setter Rae Marrero (Medford, NY/Patchogue Medford) orchestrated the offense with 42 assists—her seventh match this season with 40 or more—and added six digs, two kills, two service aces, and two block assists. Kristen Davis (Clermont, Fla./Real Life Christian Academy) made the most of her chances with a team-best .500 hitting percentage, tallying a career-high four kills and a block assist. Freshman Alexis Albino (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) recorded the team's only solo block, the first of her career, while Munachim Nwobu (Westampton, NJ/Paul VI) contributed four total blocks, four kills, and a dig.
Defensively, junior Elisabeth Brito (Jersey City, N.J./Union City) chipped in with 15 digs, five assists, and two service aces.

For Rutgers-Camden, Asha Pensa Johnson led the attack with 14 kills and three block assists. Avery Ang was a force all over the court, registering 23 assists, 10 kills, six digs, and five service aces. Johnson and Gabby Gbolahan combined for eight total blocks, while Mia Owens led the back row with 24 digs, adding eight assists and four service aces.

The opening set saw Rutgers-Camden jump out to a 6-0 lead, but NJCU fought back to tie it at 14. A kill by Pugay gave NJCU its first lead at 18-17. Despite the Scarlet Raptors regaining a 20-19 edge, a service error and back-to-back points by Pugay put NJCU ahead 22-20. The Gothic Knights held on for a narrow 25-23 win.

In the second set, tied at 3-3, Rutgers-Camden surged with a 7-0 run to take a 10-3 lead. NJCU closed the gap to 10-7 with a 4-0 run sparked by two Davis kills, but the Scarlet Raptors pulled away with an 8-1 run and eventually claimed the set 25-17.

The third set followed a similar pattern, with Rutgers-Camden jumping out to a 10-3 start, including four service aces. NJCU cut the lead to 11-7 but couldn't contain the Scarlet Raptors, who strung together another 5-0 run to go up 17-9. Although the Gothic Knights closed the gap to 19-16, Rutgers-Camden finished strong with six unanswered points to win 25-16 and take a 2-1 lead.

Refusing to go quietly, NJCU bounced back in the fourth set. Leading 6-5, a kill from junior Taylor Riccio (Nutley, N.J./Paramus Catholic) ignited a 6-0 run, including two from Nwobu, to extend the lead to 12-5. Rutgers-Camden made it close at 15-14, but NJCU responded with five straight points for a 22-16 cushion. After a late push by the Scarlet Raptors narrowed the gap to 24-22, Fitzpatrick closed the set with a kill to even the match at two sets apiece.

The fifth set was a nail-biter. Tied at 3-3, Rutgers-Camden took a 7-3 lead with four straight points. NJCU answered immediately to tie it at 7-7. The Scarlet Raptors went up 12-10, but Fitzpatrick delivered a key kill to spark a 4-0 NJCU run, giving them a 14-12 edge. The teams traded points before Fitzpatrick tied it at 17. A service ace by Pugay and another kill from Fitzpatrick sealed the dramatic 19-17 victory for the Gothic Knights.

UP NEXT:
NJCU returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 21, hosting Stockton at the John J. Moore Athletics Center. The match will also serve as the program's "Dig Pink" Night to raise awareness for breast cancer during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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.