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VB110307
3
Winner Montclair State MSU 22-14 (6-2 NJAC)
1
New Jersey City NJCU 28-5 (8-0 NJAC)
Winner
Montclair State MSU
22-14 (6-2 NJAC)
3
Final
1
New Jersey City NJCU
28-5 (8-0 NJAC)
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Montclair State MSU 30 30 19 37 (3)
New Jersey City NJCU 27 27 30 35 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Volleyball Stuns Top-Seeded NJCU, Wins NJAC Championship

Jersey City, NJ (11-03-07) - Montclair State University pulled off its second stunning upset in three days, limiting New Jersey City University to a .179 attack percentage, and snapped NJCU's 43-match home-court winning streak, as the Red Hawks won two close games and a marathon fourth set shocking the Gothic Knights, 3-1 (30-27, 30-27, 19-30, 37-35), to win the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship, Saturday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

Montclair State (22-14), the #3 seed in the NJAC Tournament, wins its second conference title in school history and its first since 1997. The Red Hawks, who were making their third appearance in an NJAC final (1997, 1998, 2007), earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament while winning its fourth match in a row. MSU, which also set a school record with its 22nd victory, had advanced to the final by posting its first-ever win over Richard Stockton College in the semifinals in 35 meetings.

The loss was NJCU's first at home since November 1, 2003, a 43-match home-court winning streak that ended. NJCU (28-5) entered the match with a 16-match winning streak this year and had won a school-record 30 consecutive games since October 6. But the Knights suffered their first loss since September 22, while the senior class experienced its only loss at home in their four-year careers that has resulted in a 119-27 record in that span.

NJCU, the #1 seed in the NJAC Tournament and regular-season champions, was appearing in the NJAC Tournament for the third year in a row and third time in school history, but lost in the championship for the second straight year following a 2005 title.

MSU, which leads the all-time series, 17-7, snapped NJCU's five-game winning streak in the series. NJCU had easily won the regular-season meeting between the schools on September 18, 3-1 (30-25, 30-11, 30-23) and defeated MSU in a tournament on October 6, 3-1 (28-30, 30-21, 30-25, 30-21).

Each team had three players in double figures in kills. MSU was led by sophomore middle blocker KARA BURNHAM, who finished with 18 kills (18-8-46, .217) and four blocks. Sophomore middle blocker ANNA CHESNAKOVA hit .333 with 13 kills (13-3-30), adding four blocks. Sophomore outside hitter KAREN MARTIN had 10 kills (10-3-31), 10 digs and two blocks.

For MSU, sophomore setter RAISA SILVA had a double-double with 50 assists, 10 digs, and two blocks. Freshman outside hitter DEVON JOHNSTON contributed 21 digs and eight kills. Sophomore opposite CHRISTINE TOSKOVICH had seven kills and four blocks.

Defensively, MSU had 76 digs as a team. Sophomore libero SARA SIRAG accounted for 21, and sophomore defensive specialist JINA MARSANO added 10. 

In game one, MSU gained a 13-8 edge on three blocks before Negron tied the game at 13-13 with her third ace. NJCU led 17-14 on a Torres ace, 19-18 on a Lizzelle Cintron kill, and 23-22 on a combined block by Torres and sophomore middle hitter Jennifer Hatch. But back-to-back kills by Martin made it 25-24 MSU, and a Toskovich block made it a two-point, 26-24 margin. Burnham smacked an over ball back for a kill and a 28-25 lead, the first of her three consecutive kills to close the game, 30-27.
 
MSU again capitalized on NJCU's 50 errors in game two, and a Chesnakova kill on an over ball made it 14-9. A combined block by Burnham and Silva made it 21-13, giving MSU its largest lead. NJCU battled back, as the Cintron sisters combined for three straight kills to claw within 26-25. Toskovich added a winner before Cintron stuffed a solo block to make it a 27-26 deficit. But a kill by Martin gave MSU a two-point cushion, and the Hawks extended their lead in the match to 2-0 as Burnham closed the game with a kill.
 
NJCU dominated game three from the start after Carvalho provided a spark off the bench. She combined with Lizzelle Cintron for a block and a 15-8 lead before two Cintron kills made it 20-10. Three kills by Michelle Cintron made it 25-13, and her ace made it 28-14. A solo block by Lizzelle Cintron capped the game at 30-19.
 
 In a back-and-forth fourth game, MSU led 16-13 on a tip kill by Chesnakova. NJCU battled back to gain a 19-18 edge on two Cintron winners. NJCU trailed 20-19 before Michelle Cintron collected two kills, Hatch another, and MSU made two errors, as the Knights built a 24-20 advantage. Another MSU error made it 25-21, and it appeared NJCU would force a fifth game. But after two NJCU errors, MSU drew within 25-24, and Johnston tied it with a kill. After another NJCU error, a kill by Martin made it 28-26. Carvalho had a winner for the Knights for a 28-27 deficit. It appeared NJCU would tie the game at 28-28, but touched a ball going out of play, resulting in a Johnston kill for the Hawks and a led 29-27 lead. An MSU attack sailed long, tying the game at 29-29. Burnham and Lizzelle Cintron, followed by Martin and Cintron, had kills, and the overtime game was knotted at 31-31. NJCU had game-point after an MSU double before Johnston tied it with a kill, 32-32. Michelle Cintron and Chesnakova traded kills for a 34-34 deadlock. Sophomore outside hitter Karen Ramirez had her only kill of the night for a 35-34 lead and another game-point, but it was the last time NJCU would score. Johnston and Martin each had kills for a 36-35 lead, and MSU won the title when an NJCU tip sailed wide.
 
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