Sewell, NJ – Junior outside hitter
COURTNEY MATLOCK put down 15 kills as Montclair State won three close sets in a 3-0 sweep of Rowan University in an NJAC matchup at Rowan College at Gloucester Country on Tuesday evening.
Senior
COURTNEY LEPORE added seven kills as the Red Hawks (7-4) posted their second straight victory while evening their conference record at 1-1. Montclair took the match 25-23, 25-20 and 25-21 for their second consecutive victory over the Profs (6-5, 1-1 NJAC). MSU leads the all-time series 15-10.
The Red Hawks rallied from a 22-19 deficit in the first set scoring six of the final seven points. A service error by the Profs and a kill from
NIKKI SENOPOULOS cut the lead to a point. Rowan followed with three straight hitting errors before LePore ended the set with a kill giving MSU the 1-0 lead.
In the second,
KIMBERLY MATLOCK served four straight points as MSU built a 6-1 lead which later grew to 19-9 after the Matlock sisters recorded back-to-back kills. A block by
LePore and
NATALIA MAJKUT gave the Red Hawks a 24-16 lead however the Profs answered with four in a row to pull within 24-20. Kim Matlock then set up Majkut for the final kill as Montclair grabbed the two-set lead with the 25-20 victory.
Rowan led 18-14 in the third set however
MELISSA TERPSTRA served six straight points with
COURTNEY MATLOCK, who hit .462 in the match, registering two kills in the run as Montclair led 21-18. The Profs countered with the next two points but
COURTNEY MATLOCK answered with her 14
th kill making the score 22-20. Two more Rowan errors led to match point which the Profs were able to hold off once. MSU then put the match away as Kim fed Courtney for the latter's 15
th and final kill.
Senopoulos added five kills while
ASHLEY GRIFFITH added three aces and a team-best 16 digs. Libero
DANIELLE OLCESE had 13 digs with Kim Matlock recording a double-double of 27 assists and 10 digs along with three blocks.
Montclair State returns to action on Friday, September 24 at the Hunter Tournament in New York City. MSU will face the host Hawks at 6:00 pm followed by an 8:00 pm contest with Salisbury University.
