Box Score
CAMDEN, New Jersey. (Sept. 12, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Camden women's volleyball team got off to a high-flying start in New Jersey Athletic Conference play tonight, sweeping New Jersey City University in 3 sets.
The win increases the Scarlet Raptors' record to 4-3 on the season, as they climb to the top of the conference at 1-0 in the NJAC. The Gothic Knights drop to 3-4 on the year and 0-1 in the NJAC.
Both teams entered the evening with .500 records, knowing that a win would be crucial to the start of NJAC play. Rutgers-Camden was quick to answer that call as they took an early lead in the first set that was never reached by the Gothic Knight attack. Sophomore
Caitlynn Marcano (Williamstown, NJ, Williamstown) opened play with an ace, her first of 4 on the night. Sophomore
Jamie Mulligan (New Gretna, NJ, Pinelands Regional) and senior
Cortnee Wilkerson (Los Angeles, CA, West Adams Prep) were both quick to open up the scoring for the Scarlet Raptors, as they led the team throughout the match in kills.
J. Mulligan finished her night with a team-high 11, and
Wilkerson was just behind with 10 kills. Freshman
Ashley Newman (Collegeville, PA, Methacton) provided 2 important service aces midway through the set to extend the Scarlet Raptor lead. With help from kills by sophomores
Jordan Erskine (Barnegat, NJ, Barnegat) and
Morgan Mulligan (New Gretna, NJ, Pinelands Regional), Rutgers-Camden secured the first set by a score of 25-18.
The Scarlet Raptors trailed only once in the second set, losing the opening point. From there, Rutgers-Camden's attack was too much to handle. Sophomore
Natalie DiGiacomo (Williamstown, NJ, Williamstown) collected a clutch kill midway through the set, as junior
Myiah Gatling (Woolwich Township, NJ, Kingsway Regional) provided 2 service aces to extend the lead to 19-15.
Wilkerson and
Erskine both provided the final kills late, as Rutgers-Camden took the second set by a score of 25-20.
DiGiacomo led the Scarlet Raptors on the defensive end with 11 digs on the night.
Many lead changes in the opening points of the third set saw back-and-forth action, as NJCU pushed for a comeback. Sophomore
Meghan Gallagher (Sicklerville, NJ, Paul VI) took over by setting up her teammates for kills, finishing with a team-high 17 assists on the night. However, the Scarlet Raptors' early dominant play was quickly evaporated by the Gothic Knights, as NJCU took the lead by a score of 14-11. Rutgers-Camden outscored NJCU 11-1 over the following 12 points, finishing off a great performance on the night with a final third set score of 25-17.
Wilkerson provided 4 crucial aces from her powerful serve that could not be stopped. She finished with a team-high 5 aces on the night.
The Scarlet Raptors led in all team categories but one on the night, including kills (39-24), assists 37-24, and digs (28-22). The Gothic Knights collected 3 blocks to Rutgers-Camden's 1.
The Scarlet Raptors return to action this weekend at the Knights Fall Classic, hosted by Neumann University. Rutgers-Camden is in Pool B, as they take on Haverford College at 4pm and Widener University at 6pm on Friday, September 15
th. They will then battle The Catholic University of America at 12pm on Saturday, September 16
th, and will await their final opponent for a 2pm matchup given results from Pool A play (teams in Pool A include Neumann, Moravian, Salisbury and Ursinus/Cabrini).
