UNION, NJ – Rutgers-Newark fought off three set points in game one before falling 3-0 to Kean in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match in Harwood Arena.  Games scores were 28-26, 25-21, 25-17.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

For the second consecutive time in NJAC play, the Scarlet Raiders (6-8, NJAC 0-4) went extra points in the opening set only to suffer a tough loss.  The Cougars (9-4, NJAC 3-0) won their third straight while Rutgers-Newark suffered its third loss in a row.

Senior middle blocker Rachel Witt was the only Raider in double-digit scoring with team highs of 10 kills and two aces on her way to 12.5 points.  Rutgers-Newark notched just 27 kills and three aces against the Cougars who used a balanced attack to post 40 kills and nine aces.

Junior outside hitter Ula Nieznalska had five kills while senior right side Stephanie Touzan and freshman middle blocker Sharee Gordon posted four kills apiece for the Raiders.  Touzan added a solo block and three assists.

Junior setter Jen Mendoza had a match-high 10 digs but collected just 17 assists against a Cougar defense which notched 34 digs and six blocks.

Junior middle hitter Kaitlyn Hansen paced Kean with match highs of 16.5 points, 11 kills and four total blocks.  She tied senior defensive specialist Samantha Sacco for match honors with three aces.  Freshman middle hitter Rachel Wells came off the bench to hammer down eight kills with just one attack error in 10 swings for the Cougars.

The Raiders fought off three set points in the opening game when junior outside hitter Paulina Walega sandwiched kills around a kill by Touzan to make it 26-26.  But a kill by sophomore outside hitter Jen Espinal followed by a Rutgers-Newark attack error gave the game and the edge to Kean.  Witt had four kills and an ace in the opening set.

Rutgers-Newark had an early lead and trailed 23-21 in the second game before Espinal spiked back-to-back kills to end the frame.

In game three, Witt and Nieznalska had kills as the Raiders ran off five straight points to lead 5-1, but the Cougars answered with an 11-1 surge to take command.

Rutgers-Newark hosts Mount St. Mary on Monday and Medgar Evers on Thursday in a pair of non-conference matches.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. for each contest.