Union, NJ – Junior HAYLEY MERRILL registered 16 kills while senior COURTNEY MATLOCK added 12 as Montclair State won its fourth straight, knocking off Kean University in three sets at Harwood Arena on Tuesday.

Sophomore ASHLEY GRIFFITH collected 41 assists and three service aces as MSU (9-2, 1-1 NJAC) topped the Cougars (9-4, 1-1 NJAC), 25-19, 25-21 and 25-14. The win was the third straight over Kean, including last year's NJAC Tournament semifinal.

The Red Hawks trailed in the first set 14-12 but scored five of the next seven points taking the lead on a kill by Merrill. Matlock added a kill for a 19-17 advantage and had two more as MSU extended the lead to 22-18. REBECCA MATASKER sparked a set-ending three-point run that ended with a kill by NATALIA MAJKUT as MSU won 25-19 for a 1-0 lead in the match.

Kean held an 11-6 lead in the second set before MSU mounted a comeback. MADISON MAUTE put down one of her four kills for a 16-15 lead. The Cougars knotted up the set at 18-18 before Montclair recorded the next three, the last on an ace from CAITLIN AARTS making the score 21-18. Kean closed within 21-20 but a Matasker service ace and Merrill kill restored the lead to 24-20. Griffith set up Merrill for the final point as Montclair State went up 2-0 with the 25-21 win.

Merrill had a kill in the third set giving MSU a 7-3 lead which would grow to a 19-9 lead after a seven-point run. Maute closed out the set for the Red Hawks, who hit .438 in the third.

Matlock hit .579 committing just one error in 19 attempts. Maute totaled eight kills. DANIELLE OLCESE collected 18 digs with Aarts and LILY SCANZILLO each getting seven.

Montclair State returns to action on Thursday, September 22 when it hosts Rutgers-Newark at the Panzer Athletic Center beginning at 7:00 pm.