Madison, NJ – The Montclair State University won two matches in a tri-match on Saturday afternoon, defeating both DeSales and Drew 3-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (10-3) battled DeSales early in the opening match, as a kill from CAMRYN MUUSS pushed them up 9-7. Following a service error, Montclair countered with three-straight points, including kills from BRYN BAUTISTA and Muuss. DeSales rattled off four consecutive points to level the game at 12, but a 7-2 run from the Red Hawks pushed Montclair in front 19-14. Bautista tallied two more kills over a stretch of three of the next four points pushed the margin to six, as the Red Hawks closed out the opening stanza 25-19.
• DeSales kicked off the second set with six-straight points and opened a 10-5 lead, but Montclair answered with five of the next six to come within one. The Bulldogs embarked on a 10-2 run to balloon the advantage to nine, but Muuss ended the run with a kill. DeSales leveled the match with four of the final five points of the frame.
• Down 3-1 early in the third, Montclair notched five in a row to surge out ahead by three, headlined by a pair of service aces from EMMA HATCHER. Back-to-back attack errors made the score 10-5, but the Bulldogs used a 9-2 run to tie the contest at 12. Bautista notched a kill and tallied a service ace to give the Red Hawks the lead, but DeSales battled out to a slim 18-17 lead later in the frame. Montclair rattled off eight of the final nine points to reclaim the advantage in the match.
• With DeSales up 10-8 in the fourth, the Red Hawks accumulated six-straight points, including a pair of kills from Bautista, to surge out by four. Another run from Montclair, six of seven points, built a six-point advantage in the latter stages of the match. Muuss tallied a pair of kills in the final stretch, with SAMMY MIZAK tallying a service ace to clinch the opening match of the day for the Red Hawks.
• In the day's second match, the Rangers claimed an early 7-5 lead before Montclair notched six points in a row, with two kills and two service aces from Muuss. Drew battled back to make the margin 12-9, but three in a row from Montclair pushed the margin back to six. MIA CAPRIGLIONE tallied a kill along with Muuss, and an attack error from the Rangers pushed the game to 20-14. The Rangers climbed back once again to 23-22, but Bautista and Capriglione closed the first stanza with kills.
• The Red Hawks raced out to an 8-6 advantage in the second stanza, highlighted by three-consecutive service aces from KASEY TRZASKA. Following a Drew point, Muuss tallied two kills and an ace to help Montclair build a 15-9 lead midway through the set. Bautista notched a kill and two aces as part of another 5-1 run to build a nine-point advantage. After the Rangers trimmed the deficit to seven, Muuss and BREANNA CRAIG tallied kills to finalize the second set 25-15.
• With a slim 6-5 lead in the third stanza, Montclair tallied six of the next eight points, including two service aces from LUCY CORNELIUS. After the Red Hawks built a 17-8 lead, Drew amassed a 9-2 run to come within two. Down 21-18, the Rangers closed the third frame with the final seven points to extend the match to a fourth set.
• Muuss capped off a 7-2 run with a kill to begin the final set, and with the margin five midway through the stanza, Montclair accumulated six points in a row, capped off by a kill from LILY THOMAS to make the score 19-8. The Rangers trimmed the margin to seven, but the Red Hawks closed out the afternoon with four of the final five points to cap off the tri-match sweep.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Muuss led the day offensively for Montclair with 28 combined kills, notching double-figures in five of her last six performances.
• Bautista notched a double-double against Drew with 11 kills and 11 digs. 
• EMMA HATCHER led the way defensively for the Red Hawks with 27 total kills on the day.
• Montclair has won four of its last five games dating back to September 20. 

FROM THE COURT

"We did a great job today with two solid wins. We did a great job staying aggressive from the service line and forcing the teams out of their offensive system. I thought we continued to work on key areas to improve for NJAC play. Looking forward to this week which includes two conference games." - Head Coach Eduardo Stawinski

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will continue New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, September 30 against Stockton. First serve from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 7:00 PM.