UNION, NJ – Rutgers-Newark junior outside hitter Toni Moppert posted team-highs of 11 kills and 15 digs, but Kean rallied for a 3-2 New Jersey Athletic Conference win. The Scarlet Raiders (4-8, NJAC 0-2) suffered their second straight five-set loss in league play, falling 24-26, 25-17, 18-25, 25-15, 15-10. 

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Raider sophomore Rachel Witt had 10 kills and five aces and freshman setter Jen Mendoza was credited with 24 assists. Rookie outside hitter Ula Nieznalska notched five kills and 14 digs while senior libero Rose Anna Beljour came up with 13 digs. 

The Cougars (9-7, NJAC 1-1) bounced back from one-game deficits twice to force the deciding fifth frame and then ran off the final six points to climb out of an 10-9 hole. The win snapped a 12-match conference losing streak for Kean dating back to a 2008 win over Rutgers-Newark. 

Junior outside hitter Jamie Sacco hammered down a match-high 13 kills for the Cougars who also got 10 kills, 15 digs and four aces from junior Nicole Bolash. Senior setter Colleen Masterson piled up 37 assists and added seven kills on just 11 attempts with no errors. 

After hitting .156 (11 kills, 6 errors, 32 attacks) in the opening game, the Raiders hit an aggregate .000 (20 kills, 20 errors, 86 attacks) during the final four sets.

Rutgers-Newark travels to William Paterson on Thursday at 7 p.m. for another NJAC match.