Women's Volleyball

Volleyball Closes Out Season in NJAC Tourney

NEWARK, N.J. (10/31/06) - Rutgers-Newark junior middle hitter Julie Pape (Baldwin, N.Y.) had eight kills, two service aces and two solo blocks to lead a balanced Rutgers-Newark attack, as the Scarlet Raiders powered past Kean, 3-0, in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament and into a rematch with New Jersey City in Thursday's semifinal round.

The third-seeded Raiders (23-10) got six kills apiece from freshmen Rachel Guyt (Hillsdale, N.J.) and Katlyn Lewis (Hillsdale, N.J.) and five kills from senior middle hitter Jennifer Snyder (Gibbsboro, N.J.).

The Cougars got seven kills and a dozen digs from senior outside hitter Elizabeth Bauer (Rahway, N.J.) while junior outside hitter Corinne O'Toole (Garfield, N.J.) chipped in four kills, an ace and nine digs.

Sophomore setter Nazly Hasanizadeh (Katy, Texas) and Guyt had four aces apiece as the Raiders dominated a battle between the two top serving teams in the NJAC, 17 aces to three. Lewis and senior libero Jessica Kleeman (Cherry Hill, N.J.), who posted a match-high 15 digs, notched three aces apiece.

The teams combined for just 49 kills, as Hasanizadeh bumped up just 20 assists on 28 team kills and Kean's freshman setter Colleen Masterson (Rahway, N.J.) tallied just 13 assists on 21 team kills.

Rutgers-Newark now gets a rematch against second-seeded New Jersey City on the road on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Gothic Knights (27-6) edged the Raiders in The Golden Dome, 15-30, 30-28, 30-28, 30-32, 15-12, on October 3.

The Cougars conclude the season with a 14-16 overall record.