GLASSBORO, N.J. (September 12, 2017) – Rowan University topped Rutgers University-Newark 3-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both women's volleyball programs Tuesday night.
 
The set scores were 25-17, 25-13 and 25-14.
 
Rutgers-Newark drops to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in conference, and the Profs move to 4-5 overall and 1-0 in the league. The Scarlet Raiders return to action at Lehman College Thursday for a non-conference showdown in the Bronx.
 
Rutgers-Newark hit .060 in the match, totaling 25 kills, three blocks, 25 assists and 63 digs. Rowan finished hitting .233 with 50 kills, six aces, five blocks, 36 assists and 68 digs.
 
The Scarlet Raiders were led by junior Cassie Luken who had 10 kills and eight digs. Senior Sue Riley notched 24 digs, and senior Morgan Schweitzer had six kills and 16 digs. Sophomore Comfort Akinbo finished with five winners and a team-high three blocks, and freshman Karly Gregoire dished out 22 assists.
 
Rowan raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first set, and the Scarlet Raiders answered, tying the set 7-7 after kills from senior Rebecca Ford and Luken. A hammer from Schweitzer gave the Raiders their first lead (10-9), but a 6-0 rally from the hosts made it 15-10. From that point, Rutgers-Newark could get no closer than three, eventually falling 25-17.
 
The Profs scored 10 of the first 15 points in the second to double up Rutgers-Newark early, and after a block from Akinbo and freshman Dahlia Shoukry pulled the visitors within three (12-9), another 5-0 rally for Rowan all but sealed the 2-0 lead.
 
In the third, Rowan overpowered the Scarlet Raiders with 9-of-10 to start, and R-N could never recover, succumbing 25-14 in the set.
  
The Scarlet Raiders are in the midst of a five-match road trip, and after three-straight non-conference matches, they will return to NJAC play at New Jersey City University on Tuesday, September 19. The next home match for the Scarlet Raiders is against league rival Montclair State University on September 21.
 
Fans should follow @ScarletRaiders and @RUNVolleyball on twitter for the latest on Rutgers-Newark women's volleyball.