MONTCLAIR, NJ – Freshman Carly Waterman posted 13 kills without committing an error leading fourth-seeded Montclair State to a three-set victory over No. 5 seed Rutgers-Newark in the opening round of the NJAC Volleyball Championship at the Panzer Athletic Center on Tuesday evening.

Jillian Wilson and Caitlin Lange each collected seven kills as the Red Hawks (19-9) knocked off the Scarlet Raiders (16-11) for the second time this season, 25-18, 25-4 and 25-22. The win sends Montclair into the NJAC semifinals on Thursday, November 1 in Galloway, NJ against top-seeded Stockton University at 7:00 pm.

Montclair dropped a 3-1 decision to the Ospreys back on October 9.

Sharon Starling and Cassie Luken had eight and seven kills apiece for the Scarlet Raiders (16-11).

Seven ties and three lead changes highlighted the first set with Montclair State taking the lead for good on an ace by Megan O'Rourke. A block by Lange and Natalia Majkut made the score 16-13 but Rutgers-Newark answered back cutting the lead to 18-17. A service error by the Raiders gave the ball back to MSU which proceeded to put up the next four. April DiAngelo served a pair of aces with Waterman adding a kill making the score 23-17. Wilson ended the set with a kill as MSU took a 1-0 lead with the 25-18 win.

The Red Hawks dominated the second set as it hit .750 collecting 15 kills on 20 swings while not committing an error. Waterman had seven of those with Lange getting three. MSU jumped out to a 5-1 lead and led 14-4 as Siyara Herbert served six straight points.  Majkut began an 11-0 run to end the set as Waterman put down five kills in that span.

The third set unfolded like the first set with nine ties and three lead chances. Rutgers-Newark knotted things up a 20-20 on a kill by Comfort Akinbo however the Radiers gave the lead right back on a service error. Waterman and Wilson followed with a block for a 22-20 lead. Akinbo kept Rutgers-Newark in it with a kill but another service error pushed MSU's lead to 23-21. Schyler White followed with an ace which was answered by an Akinbo kill. Waterman blasted a kill on the final point giving Montclair the set and the match.

Senior Ashley Griffith had 32 assists and six digs for MSU. Majkut added five kills and two blocks for the Red Hawks, who hit .329 for the match. Herbert led the way for Montclair State with 10 digs with DiAngelo getting eight.