Jersey City, NJ – Sophomore LEAH HIGGINS posted eight kills leading Montclair State to its fourth straight victory, a 3-0 win at New Jersey City University on Tuesday evening.

Sophomore MEGAN O'ROURKE totaled 24 assists along with nine digs as the Red Hawks (9-3, 1-1 NJAC) captured their first NJAC match of the season following a 25-13, 25-19, 25-15 against the Gothic Knights (4-6, 0-2 NJAC). MSU improved to 30-7 all-time versus NJCU including wins in each of the last 11 meetings.

Montclair raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first set as Higgins opened the match with a kill before SIYARA HERBERT served up consecutive aces. VICTORIA TENNON and GIANNA ARIAS capped the opening run with kills for the five-point advantage. NUCU crept back within 6-4 however Montclair put up the next three widening the lead to five. That lead grew to 15-7 following a four-point run and got to 22-11 as Tennon posted a kill.  Waterman's kill brought the Red Hawks to set point and closed it out with an ace as Montclair triumphed 25-13.

CARLY WATERMAN (six kills) and GIANNA ARIAS recorded a kill each and combined on a block during a seven-point run in the second that turned a tied set into an 11-4 Montclair State lead. Higgins had two kills with Arias getting another growing the lead to 16-5. Three kills by Higgins made the score 22-6 before a ball-handling error on the final point put the Red Hawks up 2-0 in the match.

Two straight service aces by SCHYLER WHITE helped the Red Hawks to a 7-2 advantage in the third. NJCU got within 15-10 but consecutive blocks by CAITLIN LANGE, the second with SARAH GONCZLIK, boosted the lead to eight. Herbert finished off the match for MSU with a kill.

Tennon, White, Arias and Lange had four kills apiece for MSU with White, KATELYN MONAGHAN and Herbert each posted a pair of aces. MADDIE VALKO led the Red Hawks with nine digs.

The Red Hawks are back in action on Thursday, September 26 for another NJAC match. Montclair hosts Rutgers-Camden at the Panzer Athletic Center with first serve set for 7:00 pm.