WAYNE, N.J. (October 9, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's volleyball team earned a huge come-from-behind victory at New Jersey Athletic Conference foe William Paterson University tonight, stunning the hosts 3-1 (8-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23).

The win halted a three-match skid and sees the Scarlet Raiders improve to 13-7 (3-2 NJAC) while snapping the Pioneers' seven-match winning streak as they fall to 16-2 (2-2 NJAC).

"I am very impressed with the resiliency this team demonstrated tonight." said Head Coach Megan Knott, "Winning against a red-hot league opponent in a hostile environment was exactly what we needed to pick up some momentum as we look to close the regular season strong."

Rutgers-Newark was led by rookie Sharon Starling who had a career-match, racking up 21 kills in addition to five digs and two aces. Senior Cassie Luken joined her in double-figures with 15 winners while recording a double-double by compiling a match-best 22 digs. Junior Brione Lockett chipped in with 18 digs and sophomore Karly Gregoire orchestrated the offense with a match-high 46 assists in addition to six aces and six digs.

The Raiders continue their NJAC slate when they return home for a Wednesday match against NJCU at 7 p.m.

William Paterson 25, Rutgers-Newark 8
In the first set, a pair of kills by sophomore Comfort Akinbo had the visitors tied at 2-2 with the Pioneers. Unfortunately, WPU would pull away from there, winning 14 of the next 18 points to open up a double-digit advantage before cruising to a 25-8 win in the opener.

Rutgers-Newark 25, William Paterson 23
A much more competitive second stanza featured eight ties and eight lead changes as the teams battled for a comfortable advantage. The Raiders held their largest edge at 11-8 following a spike from Starling but the Pioneers rallied to take a slim 12-11 lead.

R-N evened the score twice more with the last one coming on a Luken winner to make it 13-13 but William Paterson began to take control of the set, taking four consecutive points to force a timeout.

Still, the Scarlet Raiders would not go down quietly as another Starling kill came in the middle of three straight points for the visitors to bring them within 19-17.
Following a home timeout, Rutgers-Newark dropped the first point but promptly rallied to take five of the next six points and earn its first lead since 11-10, capped by a pair of aces from Gregoire.

Then, trailing 23-22, the visitors came up with three clutch points. Starling started things off with a kill to even the score before edging the Raiders in front with an ace. That set up a set point which Luken delivered on, hitting a winner to take the set 25-23 and even the match at 1-1.

Rutgers-Newark 25, William Paterson 21
Newark carried that momentum into the third set, turning a 3-3 tie into a 7-3 lead on a Luken spike and three straight aces by junior Analis Capobianco that forced the hosts to regroup.

While the Scarlet Raiders maintained that four-point edge for a little while longer, the Pioneers did rally to even the score at 9-9.

From there, the teams had six lead changes and five ties as R-N rallied from a 17-14 deficit to take a 20-18 lead with that surge featuring three kills by Luken.

The visitors would not concede that advantage, extending their lead to 24-20 on a Gregoire ace before Starling put an exclamation point on the stanza with a kill to earn the 25-21 win and take a 2-1 edge for the match.

Rutgers-Newark had its best attacking set to that point, outhitting WPU .233 to .146 while racking up 15 winners to just five errors. The Raiders also added five aces to one for the Pioneers.

Rutgers-Newark 25, William Paterson 23
The fourth set was a battle from the beginning. During an incredible 11 ties and 11 lead changes, neither side was able to gain larger than a two-point edge. The visitors had leads of 9-7 and 11-9 while the hosts led by 13-11, 14-12, and 15-13.

With the score at 16-16, the Scarlet Raiders went on a 7-1 surge. The run included kills by three different players plus a fantastic four in a row from Starling, while Gregoire capped the spurt with an ace to make it 23-17.

However, the Pioneers fought back, tying the match one last time with a crucial 6-0 run.

Still, R-N would not be denied as it took the last two points to win the set 25-23 and earn a huge come-from-behind 3-1 victory.