MONTCLAIR, NJ – Senior middle blocker Rachel Witt posted match-highs with 14 points and a dozen kills, but Montclair State took a crucial 3-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference win in the Panzer Athletic Center.  Set scores were 25-20, 25-16, 25-17.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Scarlet Raiders (13-11, NJAC 2-5) dropped into a sixth-place tie in the NJAC with Ramapo (12-13, NJAC 2-5) while the Red Hawks (21-10, NJAC 4-4) locked up one of six league championship tournament slots.  Ramapo must lose at home to William Paterson (14-9, NJAC 1-6) on Friday for the Raiders to have a chance of making the playoff field.

Witt roped two of the Raiders' four service aces and added 10 digs while junior outside hitter Ula Nieznalska hit a team-high .312 with six kills and just one error on 16 swings.  Nieznalska also came up with a team-high 17 digs and added an ace.

Junior setter Jen Mendoza posted 23 assists while adding nine digs and two assisted blocks.  Senior right side Stephanie Touzan was limited to four kills and two assisted blocks while sophomore middle blocker Sharee Gordon led at the net by getting in on five blocks including a solo stuff.

Sophomore libero Kandace Lewis made eight digs while junior outside hitter Paulina Walega added three kills and an ace.

Senior opposite Alyssa Batiste paced the Red Hawks with 11 kills, hitting .476 with just one attack error, while junior outside hitter Marta Topor and freshman middle blocker Dana Mcnish hammered down nine kills apiece.  Sophomore setter Angela Campo distributed 37 assists.

Rutgers-Newark now has a full week to prepare for its trip to Rutgers-Camden before finishing up the regular season in a tri-match at Bard with Old Westbury on October 27.

The Raiders are battling to post the program's first winning season since 2006.