WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (October 6, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's volleyball team suffered a pair of losses Saturday at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., falling to Albright College in a five-set battle in the opener and dropping the nightcap to the host Monarchs, 3-0.
 
Rutgers-Newark falls to 12-7 overall and will return to the hardwood at New Jersey Athletic Conference rival William Paterson University Tuesday night.
 
Albright 3, Rutgers-Newark 2 (25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 17-25, 15-11)
After dropping the first two sets, Rutgers-Newark made a valiant comeback to force and fifth and final frame.
 
In the all-important fifth set, Albright scored the first four points to force a Scarlet Raider timeout, and the Lions were able to keep an 8-4 edge at the switch. Newark kills for senior Cassie Luken and junior Analis Capobianco pulled the Raiders within two (8-6), and after a point from Albright, R-N ripped off four-straight to take a 10-9 advantage after a service ace from sophomore Dahlia Shoukry. Unfortunately for the Scarlet Raiders, Albright answered with a 6-1 run to hang on for the win.
 
Luken tallied 21 kills – eclipsing 20 spikes for the third time this season – to lead Rutgers-Newark, while Capobianco put down a career-high 15 winners and junior Epiphani Woodard had seven. Shoukry registered a team-high three aces, with Woodard tallying four blocks to pace Rutgers-Newark in that category. Sophomore setter Karly Gregoire dished out 39 assists, and junior Brione Lockett lifted a career-high 39 digs. Gregoire lifted 25 and Capobianco registered 18 as both Scarlet Raiders finished with double-doubles in the opener.
 
R-N hit .100 overall, totaling 64 points on 50 kills, eight aces and six blocks. Newark totaled 43 assists and 108 digs, and Albright finished with 68 points on the back of 60 winners, six aces and two blocks.
 
King's 3, Rutgers-Newark 0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-15)
The Monarchs were able to top the Raiders in three sets in the nightcap. R-N hit .067, notching 32 points on 25 kills, three aces and four blocks. King's totaled 51 points on 40 kills (.262), six aces and five denials.
 
Capobianco and Luken each posted eight kills, and Woodard had four blocks and four spikes. Gregoire had 21 assists, and both Lockett (15) and Capobianco (12) were in double-digits in the dig department.
 
Rutgers-Newark hit a match-high .143 in the first set, putting down 10 kills, but King's was able to convert at a .286 mark. The Monarchs played a flawless second frame, hitting .343 with 14 kills and just two errors to take the commanding lead, and the hosts were able to remain in control in the third for the sweep.