JERSEY CITY, NJ – Senior right side Austin Pappas had 21 points to lead Rutgers-Newark to a hard-fought 3-1 win over New Jersey City in the Moore Athletic & Fitness Center.  Games scores were 26-24, 21-25, 25-21, 26-24.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Pappas totaled 17 kills, three aces and two assisted blocks as the Scarlet Raiders (6-6) edged the NCAA D-III Gothic Knights (7-8) in the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Junior middle hitter Brett Pickens hit .467 with nine kills and just two errors on 15 swings while adding an ace and four assisted blocks.  Senior outside hitter Marcin Midura hammered down 10 kills while senior middle hitter Grant Metheny contributed seven kills, a solo block, two assisted blocks and eight digs.  Senior libero Zack Chambers came up with a match-high 13 digs while freshman setter Manuel Felipez distributed 45 assists.

Freshman outside hitter Besmir Arslani posted a match-high 19 kills while adding a pair of aces and four assisted blocks to pace NJCU.  Junior Justin Beaumont hit a torrid .448 with 14 kills and just one error on 29 attacks while freshman middle blocker Patryk Rusznica recorded seven kills with one error on 14 swings as the Gothic Knights hit a solid .240 (52 kills, 23 errors, 121 attacks).

In game one, the score was tied at every point from 18-18 to 24-24 before a Pickens kill gave the Raiders their second set point.  A Gothic Knight attack error gave the game and control of the match to Rutgers-Newark.

Arslani pounded down eight kills as NJCU took the second set before Pappas and Midura notched four kills apiece in the third frame as the teams exchanged 25-21 decisions.

In the fourth game, Pappas had six kills on 11 swings without an error and added two aces to spell the difference.  The match was tied at 23-23 and 24-24 before a Gothic Knight service error gave the Raiders match point.  Felipez and Pickens blocked an attack by Beaumont to end the contest.

Rutgers-Newark is at Mount St. Vincent on Saturday at 1 p.m. for another non-conference match.