WAYNE, NJ – Seniors Rachel Witt and Stephanie Touzan combined for 26 kills as Rutgers-Newark upended William Paterson, 3-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match in the WPU Rec Center.  Set scores were 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Witt had a match-high 14 kills plus a service ace while Touzan added a dozen kills as the Scarlet Raiders (11-9, NJAC 2-3) stayed in the hunt for one of six NJAC Championship Tournament berths while the Pioneers (13-7, NJAC 1-5) lost their fifth straight league contest.  It was Rutgers-Newark's second straight NJAC win which extended their winning streak to a season's best four matches.

Witt notched a double-double with 10 digs while handling 14 service receptions without an error as the Raider yielded only five aces while delivering 10 in the come-from-behind victory.

Junior setter Jen Mendoza distributed 34 assists while adding three aces and 17 digs while junior outside hitter Paulina Walega matched Mendoza's match-high ace total while making a team-high 21 digs.  Walega also was flawless in 21 service receptions.

Junior outside hitter Ula Nieznalska had seven kills, an ace and eight digs while making just one reception error in 24 tries for the Raiders while freshman middle blocker Sharee Gordon recorded a match-high four solo blocks while adding three kills.  Sophomore libero Kandace Lewis contributed 11 digs and two aces while successfully handling all 12 of her service reception opportunities.

Sophomore middle hitter Shauna VanDeRee paced the Pioneers with 11 kills, an ace, two solo blocks and two assisted blocks while junior outside hitter Erika Masso notched 10 kills.  Sophomore libero Katelyn Malloy had a match-high 28 digs.

Masso had six kills in six swings in the opening game as WPU took early control, but the Raiders clawed their way back in the second set.

Touzan had five kills and Walega roped three of the Raiders' five aces in the second set to level the match.  Gordon came up with three solo blocks to stall the Pioneer attack.  Walega ended the frame with an ace to set the stage for the final two games.

A Walega kill staked the Raiders to a 24-17 edge in the third game as Rutgers-Newark rode six kills and an ace by Witt to take command of the match.

In the fourth set, Witt and Touzan had three kills apiece to as the Raiders led wire-to-wire.

Rutgers-Newark hosts NJAC-leading Richard Stockton (18-4, NJAC 5-0) on Thursday at 7 p.m. in The Golden Dome.  The Ospreys have reeled off 27 straight victories against NJAC opponents and have won their last eight matches.