Montclair, NJ – Junior HAYLEY MERRILL collected 13 kills in the first match while senior COURTNEY MATLOCK totaled 10 in the second as Montclair State downed Farmingdale State and Mount Aloysius in its home-opening tri-match on Saturday.
 
The Red Hawks improved to 5-1 on the season after posting a four-set win against Farmingdale (25-22, 25-6, 21-25, 25-8) before sweep past Mount Aloysius in three sets.
 
In the first set against Farmingdale State, Montclair trailed 22-21 before ripping off the final four points. APRIL DIANGELO had a kill to give MSU the lead and ASHLEY GRIFFITH served up an ace before getting the final kill to end the set. The Red Hawks took the momentum and stormed out in the second set to a 10-0 behind the serving of Griffith who had two aces in the run.
 
The lead grew to 21-6 before ended it with another four-point with JILLIAN WILSON sandwiching two kills around an ace from DANIELLE OLCESE.
 
After dropping the third set, freshman CAITLIN AARTS served nine consecutive points turning a 2-2 tie into an 11-2 MSU advantage. Matlock would put down the final point with her second kill as the Red Hawks finished off the match with the 25-8 win.
 
NATALIA MAJKUT and DiAngelo each had six kills while Griffith totaled 18 assists and three aces. MADISON MAUTE had four kills and three blocks with KIMBERLY MATLOCK led the Red Hawks with 19 assists.
 
COURTNEY MATLOCK had 10 kills with Merrill and REBECCA MATASKER each added nine in the 25-19, 25-17, 25-23 victory over Mount Aloysius.
 
Griffith registered 32 assists while Merrill and Wilson each recorded three blocks. Olcese posted 17 assists
 
Montclair State returns to action on Tuesday, September 13 with its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener. The Red Hawks travel to Galloway Township to face Stockton University at 7:00 pm in a rematch of their NJAC Championship Match last November.