Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CAMDEN, New Jersey (Oct. 21, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Camden volleyball team split a set of home matches here today, as they hosted Penn State Berks and Marywood on Senior Day at the Rutgers-Camden Athletic & Fitness Center.
 
Rutgers-Camden honored their lone senior, Cortnee Wilkerson (Los Angeles, CA, West Adams Prep), in her final regular season home match prior to taking on Penn State Berks. Wilkerson has captured a stellar career while playing for the Scarlet Raptors.
 
In the middle match of the day, Marywood defeated Penn State Berks 3-1. Final scores of the four set match were 25-15, 28-30, 25-22, and 25-15.
   
In the first match of the day, the Scarlet Raptors took down Penn State Berks in straight sets, defeating the Nittany Lions 3-0.
 
Rutgers-Camden took the first set by a score of 25-18, which highlighted kills from sophomore Jamie Mulligan (New Gretna, NJ, Pinelands Regional) and Wilkerson. J. Mulligan ended the match with a team-high 14 kills, while Wilkerson added 10, and junior Myiah Gatling (Woolwich Township, NJ, Kingsway Regional) posted 7.
 
Rutgers-Camden kept their momentum in full swing into the second set, winning a tight battle by a score of 25-23. It was back and forth action throughout the set, with the Scarlet Raptors keeping a narrow lead the entire set. Defensive work was key, led by sophomore Natalie DiGiacomo (Williamstown, NJ, Williamstown), who provided 15 digs in the match. Sophomore Morgan Mulligan (New Gretna, NJ, Pinelands Regional), freshman Emma Browning (Columbus, NJ, Northern Burlington) and Gatling provided crucial blocks for the Scarlet Raptors in their defensive efforts. M. Mulligan finished with a team-high 2 blocks in the match.
 
It was another battle in the third set, as Penn State had early leads that all were squashed by Rutgers-Camden's high-flying attack. Sophomore Caitlynn Marcano (Williamstown, NJ, Williamstown) provided a team-high 21 assists in the match, setting up her teammates for important kills. Freshman Alyson Lowe (Havertown, PA, Haverford) also contributed 16 assists. The third set finished 25-22 in favor of the Raptors, completing the sweep of Penn State Berks.
   
In the final match of the day, Rutgers-Camden found themselves down 1 set to 0 and trailing the Pacers by a second set score of 11-2. In what seemed like a probable second set win for Marywood, Rutgers-Camden had other plans. The Scarlet Raptors battled back to take the set 26-24.
 
The second set comeback was fueled by kills from Wilkerson, M. Mulligan, Gatling, and sophomore Jordan Erskine (Barnegat, NJ, Barnegat). Marcano and Lowe continued their dominant display in setting up their teammates, leading the Scarlet Raptors in the second match with a combined 45 assists between the two of them.
 
The Scarlet Raptors took the second set win in full stride into the next, making quick work of the Pacers in the third set, winning by a final score of 25-12. DiGiacomo aided that momentum with her dangerous serve, stringing together 7 straight points to put the set out of reach for Marywood. J. Mulligan ended the set for the Raptors with 3 straight kills, finishing with a total of 11 kills in the match.
 
The comeback for Marywood started early in the fourth set, as the Scarlet Raptors found themselves fighting a deficit within the first 10 points. With Rutgers-Camden down 6-3, kills by the Mulligan sisters, Wilkerson, and Erskine were not enough to seal the match. There were over 10 lead changes that occurred in the remainder of the set, as Marywood took the fourth by a final score of 28-26.
 
The race to 15 points for the fifth and most important set of the day was nothing short of exciting, as three different lead changes saw back and forth action between the two teams. The visitors from Marywood eventually came out on top, winning the fifth by a score of 15-12, taking the 5-set match 3-2.
 
Wilkerson led the Scarlet Raptors in kills with 22, as Erskine added 14. DiGiacomo had a team-high 4 aces. She also had a team-high 31 digs in the match, as Wilkerson added 18 and freshman Ashley Newman (Collegeville, PA, Methacton) added 15.
 
With the split decision on the day, Rutgers-Camden moves to 15-13 on the season. The Scarlet Raptors return to New Jersey Athletic Conference play when they travel to Ramapo College on Tuesday, October 24^th, for a 7pm contest in their final conference matchup of the year. The Raptors have clinched a berth in NJAC postseason play and will await the release of the bracket to see who they will face next Tuesday, October 31^st.