NEWARK, NJ – Baruch rode a 9-0 start in game one to a 3-0 non-conference win over Rutgers-Newark in The Golden Dome Rec Gym.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Scarlet Raiders (2-13) got seven kills apiece from senior outside hitter Toni Moppert and junior middle hitter Rachel Witt, but the Bearcats (11-8) hit .232 (35 kills, 13 errors, 95 attacks) to take a 25-12, 25-22, 25-21 victory.  No player on either team tallied double-digit points.

Rutgers-Newark junior right side Stephanie Touzan added five kills and an ace while sophomore setter Jen Mendoza notched 19 assists and two aces.  Sophomore outside hitter Ula Nieznalska came up with four kills and a match-high 14 digs while sophomore libero Paulina Walega made 10 digs.

Freshman middle blocker Sara Stephani paced Baruch with eight kills while getting in on two of the Bearcats' three blocks.  Freshman right side Jessica Wu and junior middle blocker Lauren Hayden had six kills apiece in the balanced Bearcat attack which was fueled by junior setter Melinda Santiago who registered 19 assists in just two sets.

Santiago served the first nine points of the match and Baruch hit .310 (11-2-29) to sprint out to an early advantage.

Moppert notched four kills in the second game, but the Bearcats held off a late Raider rally.  Back-to-back kills by Moppert and Touzan trimmed what had been as much as a 6-point deficit to 19-18 before Baruch reeled off four straight points to regain control.

In the third set, Witt had four kills and Mendoza delivered both of her aces, but the Bearcats again pulled away at the end.  Mendoza's second ace of the game gave the Raiders their final lead at 17-16 before Hayden put down a pair of kills to spark a decisive 5-point run.

Rutgers-Newark hosts Montclair State in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match on Thursday at 7 p.m. in The Golden Dome Rec Gym.