JERSEY CITY, NJ – Junior middle blocker Rachel Witt had a career-high 18 kills plus six aces to pace Rutgers-Newark to a 3-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference win over New Jersey City in the Moore Athletic & Fitness Center.  Game scores were 28-26, 25-19, 25-22.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Scarlet Raiders (2-12, NJAC 1-2) rode Witt's .441 hitting (18 kills, three errors, 34 attacks) and solid defense to their first league victory of the season while the Gothic Knights (3-7, NJAC 0-3) fell for the fourth straight time.  The victory snapped 9-match losing streak for Rutgers-Newark.

Sophomore libero Paulina Walega came up with a career-high 19 digs and an assist while sophomore setter Jen Mendoza fueled the Raider attack with 31 assists.

Senior outside hitter Toni Moppert had eight assists and nine digs while handling 31 serves with just one reception error.  Junior right side Stephanie Touzan added six kills and two aces for Rutgers-Newark which collected four kills, an ace and nine digs from sophomore outside hitter Ula Nieznalska.  Sophomore middle hitter Michelle Jimenez chipped in four kills.

NJCU got 10 points each from senior outside hitter Tabitha Jordan and freshman middle blocker Jade Medley.  Jordan hammered down nine kills and added an ace while Jordan posted eight kills and a pair of solo blocks.

In the first set, the Raiders rallied from a 20-17 deficit to edge the Gothic Knights.  A Moppert kill followed by an NJCU ball-handling error spelled the difference.  Witt led a balanced Rutgers-Newark attack with five kills.

Witt dominated play in the final two sets.  She exploded for six kills and four aces to as the Raiders took control of the match in the second game.  Then Witt piled on seven kills and two more aces in the deciding game.

Rutgers-Newark hosts Baruch College on Tuesday in a non-conference contest at 7 p.m. in The Golden Dome Rec Gym.