MADISON, NJ | New Jersey City University (NJCU) wrapped up its season after falling in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship game to top-seeded Hartwick, 3-1. NJCU punched its ticket to the ECAC Championship with a five-set thriller, 3–2, over #3 FDU-Florham inside the Ferguson Recreation Center.

Match One: NJCU 3, FDU-Florham 2 (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10)

Kai Fitzpatrick (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough High School) paced NJCU (16-9) in the win with a match-high 28 kills on .278 hitting. Diane Pugay (Jersey City, N.J./Infinity Institute) added 18 kills while Rae Marrero (Medford, NY/Patchogue Medford) tallied 46 assists. Munachim Nwobu (Westampton, NJ/Paul VI) record a staggering eight block assists in the win and Genesis Hibbard (Groesbeck, Texas/Morristown (N.J.)) recorded 26 digs. FDU-Florham (15-13) was led by Tayla O'Connor and Genevieve Fitch who tallied 15 kills each.

The Devils opened the match with a 6-4 lead before the Gothic Knights responded with a 6-1 run to take the lead. FDU-Florham remained in the match with several well timed kills and knotted the set up at 15. After a run by the Gothic Knights put them into the lead, FDU-Florham strung together six points to take a 21-20 lead. Fitzpatrick and Pugay teamed up for three kills down the stretch to put NJCU ahead, 1-0.

NJCU took a 2-0 lead in the match behind a dominant performance in the second set. The Gothic Knights extended their lead to 19-13 thanks to a kill from Nwobu. The Devils tried to claw back into the set but were not able to string more than two points together as Pugay tallied two kills to close out the set.
FDU-Florham came out in the third set and controlled it from the first serve. The Devils took a commanding 8-3 lead and faced little resistence from the Gothic Knights for the remainder of the set.

The Devils carried that momentum over to the fourth set where they would even the match at two. FDU-Florham used another strong opening to set the tone for the set. Fitzpatrick aided the Gothic Knights during a 7-0 run that put NJCU ahead briefly. The Devils gained steam down the stretch and closed out the set on a 7-2 run.

In the fifth, NJCU stormed out to a 7-2 lead and never looked back. Brianna Melanson (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) and Fitzpatrick kept the Devils at arms length with a 3-0 run which setup Pugay to close out the match with a pair of kills.

Match Two: Hartwick 3, NJCU 1 (28-26, 21-25, 15-25, 22-25)

NJCU (16-10) was once again led by Fitzpatrick who finished with 28 kills in the loss. Pugay added 17 kills while Marrero dished out 48 assists. Defensively, Hibbard paced the team with 22 digs. Hartwick (23-11) picked up 21 kills by Shelby Swartz and 20 digs by Braelyn Hornick.

The Gothic Knights trailed 21-17 in the opening set but rallied back behind a 7-1 run to take a 24-22 lead. Hartwick didn't go quietly as they tied the match at 25 before a pair of kills by Fitzpatrick gave NJCU an early lead.

In the second set, Hartwick came out and took a 13-3 lead. NJCU didn't throw in the towel, however, as they rallied back to trail by two, 20-18, thanks to a kill from Marrero. Despite the late surge by the Gothic Knights, Hartwick evened the match at one.

NJCU began to run out of steam in the third set as they put up their lowest point output of the day, tallying just 15 points. Hartwick gained control via an 11-1 run that sealed the set in their favor.

Hartwick carried that momentum over to the fourth and final set as NJCU was unable to overcome Hartwick in the ECAC Championship match.

For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University Athletics, visit NJCUgothicknights.com and follow the Gothic Knights on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Print Friendly Version