CAMDEN, NJ – Rutgers-Newark took heavily-favored Rutgers-Camden to the brink before bowing, 3-2, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match.  Set scores were 25-13, 24-26, 25-17, 24-26, 16-14.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Senior middle blocker Rachel Witt notched match-highs of 28.5 points, 22 kills and four aces as the Raiders (13-12, NJAC 2-6) rallied twice to level the match by winning extended games before falling in an extended fifth set.  Witt also posted two solo blocks and an assisted block.

Junior outside Paulina Walega, who registered five kills and 18 digs, served out game two when the Raiders climbed out of a 24-18 hole to shock the Scartlet Raptors.  Rutgers-Newark led 6-3 in the final set before falling behind.  The Raiders rallied to knot the score at 14-14.

Junior outside hitter Ula Nieznalska added 10 kills, an ace and a team-high 21 digs while junior setter Jen Mendoza totaled 41 assists, 18 digs and an ace.  Senior right side Stephanie Touzan hammered down nine kills while sophomore middle blocker Sharee Gordon added three kills and team highs of three solo and two assisted blocks. 

Five Raptors reached double digits in points led by senior middle hitter Kristin Koloski with a dozen kills, three aces, one solo and one assisted block for 16.5 points.  Senior libero Catherine Tadeja came up with an incredible 48 digs while freshman middle hitter Olivia Rowland piled up nine kills, four solo blocks and two assisted blocks.

The Raptors (21-6, NJAC 6-2) won for the fourth straight time in NJAC play and posted their eighth win in their last nine outings.  It was their fifth 3-2 win of the season – and second in a row.  They locked up the third seed in the upcoming NJAC Championship Tournament with the victory. 

Rutgers-Newark now must wait for tomorrow night when William Paterson (14-10, NJAC 1-6) visits Ramapo (12-13, NJAC 2-5) in the final league match of the season.  The Raiders need for the Pioneers to down the Roadrunners to create a three-way tie for the sixth and final slot in the NJAC Championship Tournament.  If WPU wins 3-1 or 3-2 over Ramapo, the Raiders would make the tournament field through a Byzantine tie-breaker in the conference rules.  A 3-0 win by the Pioneers give the slot to WPU while Ramapo can claim the sixth slot on a better conference record with a victory.

Rutgers-Newark visits Bard on Saturday for a regular-season ending tri-match with Old Westbury.  The Raiders will be pursuing the first winning season for the program since 2006.