MONTCLAIR, N.J. (October 16, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's volleyball team suffered a New Jersey Athletic Conference defeat at Montclair State University tonight, 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-12). The Scarlet Raiders move to 14-8 (4-3 NJAC) while the Red Hawks improve to 14-6 (5-3 NJAC).

Senior Cassie Luken led R-N with a match-high 13 kills while chipping in seven digs and an ace. Freshman Sharon Starling added eight digs and six kills, junior Brione Lockett had a match-best 26 digs, and sophomore Karly Gregoire orchestrated the offense with 19 assists.

The Scarlet Raiders look to bounce back quickly as they head back home for a non-conference matchup with Lehman College on Thursday night in The Golden Dome, slated for a 7 p.m. start.

The opening set featured a slew of lead changes and deadlocks as the pendulum swung back-and-forth eight times. The Raiders gained an early 7-4 edge with four consecutive points, bookended by kills from Luken. Still, that would be their largest lead of the stanza.

MSU came back to even the score at 7-7 and from there the sides stayed close. R-N's last advantage came at 13-12 after a spike by sophomore Comfort Akinbo and the last even score would be 13-13. The visitors remained close and were within 20-17 late, but the home squad finished the set off on a 5-2 spurt to take a 1-0 lead for the match.

The Red Hawks carried their momentum into the second set, turning a slim 10-9 lead into an insurmountable 20-11 advantage with a big 10-2 surge.

The Raiders held a very early 3-1 edge on a Luken winner and ace, but after three more ties and lead changes, the hosts took control.

Newark pulled within eight twice however the team could get no closer as Montclair State won the set and built a 2-0 lead.

In the third set, the Red Hawks got off to a hot start, winning the first five points. They would not cede control from there, building an 18-8 lead before taking seven of the last 11 tallies to close out the match with a 3-0 sweep.