Montclair, NJ – Junior HAYLEY MERRILL registered a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs helping Montclair State sweep to its fifth straight win in three-set triumph over Rutgers-Newark on Thursday evening at the Panzer Athletic Center.

Senior REBECCA MATASKER added nine kills with a .471 hitting efficiency as MSU got past the Scarlet Raiders for the fifth consecutive meeting – 25-19, 25-16, 25-14. Montclair improved to 10-2 overall, 2-1 in the NJAC while Rutgers-Newark fell to 5-3, 1-2 in the league.

A set of streaks in the first set, including a five-point run by Montclair made the score 10-6 as Merrill collected one of her three in the opener. The Red Hawks would go up 18-12 before Rutgers-Newark tallied seven of the next eight points tying the set at 19-19 on an error. MSU swing the momentum back in its favor with a set-ending six-point run. Merrill served all six points, including one ace while COURTNEY MATLOCK had two kills.

In the second set, MSU trailed 8-4 before ripping off a nine-point string.  DANIELLE OLCESE served all the point, including three consecutive aces en route to a 13-8 advantage. Merrill had five kills and Matasker three in the set which ended on a kill by MELISSA TERPSTRA.

Merrill recorded seven kills and five digs in the third set as MSU led 10-7 before embarking on a five-point run extending the lead to 15-7. Matasker finished off the match knocking down kills on the final two points.

ASHLEY GRIFFITH had 26 assists and five digs for MSU while Matlock and NATALIA MAJKUT had four kills apiece. Olcese recorded 10 digs with freshman CAITLIN AARTS tallying 11.  

The Red Hawks are back in action on Saturday, September 24 with a home tri-match. MSU will face Brooklyn College at 11:00 am before taking on College of New Rochelle at 3:00 pm.