The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women’s volleyball team secured a 3-2 victory over Saint Elizabeth University (SEU) in a closely contested match held at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on September 25. The win improved NJCU’s record to 10-1, while SEU dropped to 5-9.
Rookie outside hitter Kai Fitzpatrick led the Gothic Knights with a career-high 33 kills, tying her for tenth place in program history for most kills in a single match. Fitzpatrick also contributed 21 digs, one service ace, two assists, and a block assist. “She joins Gothic Knight Lizzelle Cintron, who tallied 33 kills against Springfield College back in 2007.” This performance marked Fitzpatrick’s fifth double-double of the season and her first time surpassing the 30-kill mark.
NJCU outperformed SEU statistically in several categories, recording more kills (62 to SEU’s 40), points (74-52), aces (7-5), assists (53-35), and digs (79-59). SEU had an advantage at the net with seven total blocks compared to NJCU’s five.
Graduate student Diane Pugay contributed with 13 kills, seven digs, and a block. Sophomore setter Rae Marrero achieved personal bests with seven kills and distributed 46 assists along with ten digs. Marrero has now reached at least 40 assists in five matches this season and recorded five double-doubles. Freshman Munachim Nwobu led NJCU at the net defensively with four blocks, while sophomore libero Elisabeth Brito posted a career-high of twenty digs.
For Saint Elizabeth University, Dadlyna Louis led offensively with sixteen kills and two blocks. Libero Alyssa Wells registered twenty-one digs and three assists. Setter responsibilities were shared between Victoria Compton (sixteen assists) and Ericka Menaling Trajano (fourteen assists).
The match featured several momentum shifts across five sets. After losing the first set despite an early lead by SEU, NJCU rallied to win it 29-27 following key plays from Pugay and Fitzpatrick. SEU responded by taking the second set 25-21 after capitalizing on NJCU errors late in the frame.
In the third set, both teams exchanged runs before SEU closed out a narrow win at 25-23 to go up two sets to one. Facing elimination in the fourth set, NJCU took control early behind Fitzpatrick’s efforts and won decisively at 25-12.
The deciding fifth set saw both teams trading points until NJCU pulled away after an Eagles’ service error sparked a decisive run. The Gothic Knights finished strong for a final score of 15-9 in the last set.
NJCU will next play against Ramapo College Roadrunners on Tuesday, September 30 in Mahwah, New Jersey as part of their conference schedule.
For more information about NJCU Athletics visit https://www.njcugothicknights.com/ or follow their social media channels.
