Jersey City, NJ (9/19/02)- Montclair State University rallied from a 2-0 deficit, and survived a five-game marathon with New Jersey City University, 3-2 (10-30, 28-30, 30-26, 30-22, 15-12) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference battle at the Athletic & Fitness Center.

With the loss, NJCU's two-game winning streak ends, as the Gothic Knights fall to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC. MSU ends a two-game skid while improving to 4-4, 2-1.

NJCU dominated the opening game, notching 10 kills and only one error on 16 attempts as a team (.563 hitting percentage). But after securing a 30-28 win in game two, the Red Hawks would not quit, rallying to win game three from behind, and leading most of game four.

The fifth game was tied at 10-10 before the Red Hawks scored five of the final seven points for the match victory. In defeat, senior middle hitter Cara Strzelczyk (Depew, NY/St. Mary's of Lancaster, NY) was outstanding, recording 20 kills and only six errors in 39 attacks (.359 percentage), with 17 digs, three aces and three solo blocks.

Senior outside hitter Evelyn Halkias (Jersey City, NJ/St. Aloysius) had nine kills in 23 attempts and 19 digs with two aces, while freshman opposite hitter Lucille Villaplana (Newark, NJ/Barringer) had seven kills, two aces and 23 digs. Junior middle hitter Melissa Pablos (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) managed seven kills and three solo blocks. Sophomore setter Leydi Zuluaga (West New York, NJ/Memorial) gave out 35 assists.

Pablos' former high school teammate, sophomore outside hitter TIFFANY ACIZ (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) led the Redhawks with 24 kills, 13 errors and 54 attempts (.204), two aces, and a team-high 11 digs. Senior outside hitter STACEY JOHNSON (Paterson, NJ/Passaic Tech) added 16 kills and just two errors in 43 tries (.326) and four aces. Freshman outside hitter FLAVIA VEIGA (Belen, Brazil/Sophos) had eight kills, two errors and 30 attacks (.200), with two block assists, three aces, and 10 digs. Sophomore setter JENNIFER OLAN (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academy) distributed 43 assists and had 10 digs.

MSU returns to action on Friday, September 20th at they host Baruch College in their home opener at 6:00 p.m.