2007 Volleyball News

Rutgers-Camden ends season
with volleyball loss at Newark

NEWARK (Oct. 23, 2007) – Rutgers-Newark sophomore outside hitter Sagan Caldwell (Ramona, CA/Ramona) collected a career-high 16 kills and added four aces and 10 digs to lead the Scarlet Raiders to a 3-0 sweep over Rutgers-Camden in a New Jersey Athletic Conference volleyball match Tuesday night in The Golden Dome.

Newark won by scores of 30-21, 30-19 and 30-13.

The Scarlet Raiders snapped a 14-match losing streak to improve to 2-21 overall and win their first NJAC match of the season. They are 1-6 in the conference.

Rutgers-Camden closes its season at 0-23 overall and 0-8 in the NJAC.

Newark junior setter Nazly Hasanizadeh (Katy, TX/Alief Hastings) collected 31 assists, while freshman middle blocker Crystal Navarro (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) had a career-high eight service aces to go along with five kills. Navarro had half of the Raiders’ 16 aces.

Junior middle blocker Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) paced the Scarlet Raptors with 11 kills and two aces, while making seven digs.  Sophomore libero Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) had a team-high 15 digs, while freshman setter Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) tallied 12 assists, six digs and two kills. Sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) added eight digs, one ace, one assist and one kill.

Polite ended the season leading the Raptors in kills (89), total attacks (381) and blocks (28), with her kills being the ninth-highest single-season total in program history and her blocks tying for the seventh-highest total.

Lo had a team-leading 132 digs and 21 aces, while finishing second on the Lady Raptors with 44 assists.

White paced the club with 101 assists, while Childers collected 47 kills and 23 blocks to finish second on the team in each category.

Smith lifts Lincoln volleyball
to sweep of Rutgers-Camden

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Penn. (Oct. 18, 2007) – Junior Donneisha Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Harold S. Vincent) collected nine kills and six service aces to power the Lincoln University volleyball team over Rutgers University-Camden, 3-0, in a non-conference match Thursday night at Manuel Rivero Hall.

Lincoln won its second straight match by scores of 30-22, 30-22 and 30-25 to improve to 6-20. Rutgers-Camden falls to 0-22.

Freshman Lia Hubbard (Farrell, PA/Farrell) contributed 15 assists for Lincoln to raise her season total to 258. Junior Jordean Matthews (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) added six kills and four aces, while senior Shanda Jackson (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) and sophomore Kenyatta Austin (Newark, NJ/Immaculate Conception) each added five aces each for Lincoln.

Junior middle blocker Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had six digs, five kills and four aces for the Lady Raptors, while sophomore libero Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) added five assists and two aces. Freshman outside hitter Alisha Laws (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) notched four kills, while freshman outside hitter Tenisha Brown (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) collected two kills, one ace and one dig.

The Scarlet Raptors led late in each game. They held a 21-20 edge in the first game only to have Lincoln score 10 of the final 11 points of the game. In the second game, Rutgers-Camden held a 22-20 lead before the Lions rallied with 10 straight points to close out the second game. In the third game, Lincoln trailed, 25-23, before scoring the final seven points of the match to close out the victory. Matthews finished the match with three straight service aces.

Lincoln returns to action Saturday morning when it travels to Chowan (N.C.) College for a 10:30 a.m. start. Rutgers-Camden concludes its season with a match at Rutgers-Newark next Tuesday night.

NJCU volleyball star Cintron powers
Gothic Knights to sweep of Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN (Oct. 16, 2007) – The New Jersey City University women’s volleyball team has been a juggernaut in the New Jersey Athletic Conference all season long, and the Gothic Knights continued their run here Tuesday night.

NJCU swept host Rutgers-Camden in three games by scores of 30-11, 30-12 and 30-13 as they raised their record to 25-4 overall and 7-0 in the NJAC. The victory helped NJCU clinch the top seed for the NJAC tournament for the second time in three years and earn a first-round bye for the third straight year.

The Gothic Knights have now won 13 consecutive matches, including seven straight sweeps, and are 17-0 in 3-0 sweeps this season. They have won 21 consecutive games overall, eight shy of their program record set in 2004.

As usual, the Gothic Knights were sparked by all-NJAC senior middle blocker Lizzelle Cintron (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), who collected 19 kills, five digs, four blocks and a .708 hitting percentage.

Freshman setter Alex Johanesen (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) added 23 assists and two aces, while senior outside hitter Glorinell Perez (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) added five kills, three aces and seven digs. Sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Hatch (Paterson, NJ/Mary Help of Christians Academy) had a team-high eight digs for the Gothic Knights, while three aces and three kills.

For Rutgers-Camden, junior middle blocker Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) notched three kills and seven digs, while sophomore Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) added eight digs, one ace, one kill and one assist. Sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) had three kills and three digs.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Thursday with a non-conference match at Lincoln University, beginning at 7 p.m. NJCU is idle until Tuesday, when it hosts Rowan at 7 p.m. in a conference match.

Hennecke powers Ramapo
past Rutgers-Camden

MAHWAH (Oct. 11, 2007) – The Ramapo College women’s volleyball team collected 20 aces, including eight by sophomore Maureen Hennecke (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) as it swept Rutgers University-Camden, 3-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match here Thursday night.

Ramapo won by scores of 30-8, 30-5 and 30-10.

Hennecke also had a team-high nine kills, while Kristen Semeniak (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) and Tara Tielmann (Gillette, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) collected six apiece.

The Roadrunners improved to 14-6 overall and 2-3 in the NJAC, while the Scarlet Raptors fell to 0-20 and 0-6.

Sophomore Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) led the Scarlet Raptors with four kills, five digs and one block. Freshman Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) dished out a team-high seven assists, while sophomore Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) had 10 digs. Freshman Tenisha Brown (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) added three kills and freshman Maria Passini (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) collected one kill and one ace.

Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action Tuesday when it hosts New Jersey City University at 7 p.m..

Niemiera’s 10 kills help power Kean
over Rutgers-Camden volleyball team

CAMDEN (Oct. 9, 2007) – Kean University freshman outside hitter Kate Niemiera (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) collected 10 kills and the Cougars had 28 kills as a team to sweep a New Jersey Athletic Conference match over Rutgers University-Camden here Tuesday night.

Kean won the match by scores of 30-16, 30-21 and 30-25.

The Cougars raised their record to 6-13 overall and 2-4 in the NJAC, snapping a five-match losing streak. The Lady Raptors fell to 0-19 and 0-5.

Kean also received 18 service aces in its victory, including five from sophomore libero Caitlin Gibbons (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional). Freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Nicole Bolash (Clinton, NJ/Voorhees) notched a team-high nine digs and added four kills and three aces, while freshman setter Ivana Kapetanovic (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) added four kills and four digs. Senior outside hitter Alicja Ciastoch (Teaneck, NJ/Immaculate Conception) collected seven digs, two kills and four aces.

For the Lady Raptors, sophomore middle blocker Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) notched eight kills and eight digs, while sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) had three kills, six digs, one solo block and one assisted block. Sophomore libero Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) added five digs and four aces, while freshman setter Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) collected seven assists, one ace, one kill and four digs.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Thursday when it plays a 7 p.m. NJAC match at Ramapo College. Kean is home the same night at 7 p.m. against NJAC foe New Jersey City University.

Hess, Jendrek power PBU to sweep
over Rutgers-Camden volleyball team

LANGHORNE, Penn. (Oct. 4, 2007) – Freshman middle hitter Caitlin Hess (Newark, DE/Calvary Academy) and sophomore outside hitter Tanya Jendrek (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) each collected seven kills to power the Philadelphia Biblical University volleyball team to a non-conference sweep over Rutgers University-Camden here Thursday night.

PBU won the match by scores of 30-11, 30-7 and 30-17 to stretch its winning streak to 12 matches and raise its record to 20-4.
Rutgers-Camden falls to 0-18.

For the Lady Raptors, sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) notched four kills, six digs and three blocked shots, while freshman setter Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had six assists, two digs and one ace. Three other freshmen, Elizabeth Sitler (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon), Tenisha Brown (Washington, DC/Woodrow Wilson) and Maria Passini (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) also contributed, with Sitler and Brown each collecting two digs and Passini notching one kill, one ace and one dig.

Sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) added one kill and one dig for the Raptors.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Kean University in a 7 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference match.

Rowan sweeps Rutgers-Camden
Rutgers-Camden volleyball

GLASSBORO (Oct. 2, 2007) – The Rowan University volleyball team used 13 kills and 11 digs from junior outside hitter Alexis Louis (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) on the way to a 3-0 sweep over Rutgers University-Camden in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match here Tuesday night.

Rowan, which won by scores of 30-10, 30-9 and 30-13, improves to 6-7 overall and 4-1 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden falls to 0-17 and 0-4.

Senior middle blocker Theresa Pecoraro (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) notched 10 kills, while freshman outside hitter Siobahn Young (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) added nine kills and 13 digs for the Profs. Sophomore setter Chrissy McKay (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) had 30 assists and five aces, while freshman defensive specialist Casey Rosell (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) added 10 aces and 15 digs.

For the Lady Raptors, sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had five kills, one ace, five digs and one solo block, while freshman outside hitter Elizabeth Sitler (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon) added an ace and five digs. Sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) notched one kill, six digs, one solo block and one assisted block.

The Raptors received one ace and five digs from sophomore setter Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West). A trio of freshmen, setter Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), outside hitter Maria Passini (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and Tenisha Brown (Washington, DC/Woodrow Wilson) also chipped in for Rutgers-Camden, with White notching one kill, two aces and two digs, Brown recording an assist and three digs, and Passini adding an assisted block.

Rutgers-Camden travels to Philadelphia Biblical University for a 7 p.m. non-conference match Thursday.

Cedar Crest, DeSales sweep
Rutgers-Camden volleyball

ALLENTOWN, Penn. (Sept. 29, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden volleyball team played a pair of matches here Saturday at DeSales University, getting swept by both Cedar Crest College and DeSales, 3-0.

Cedar Crest defeated Rutgers-Camden, 30-7, 30-13 and 30-10, while DeSales posted the victory by scores of 30-9, 30-10 and 30-5. In the other match of the day, DeSales swept Cedar Crest, 30-7, 30-24 and 30-23.

The losses drop the Scarlet Raptors to 0-16.

In the match against Cedar Crest (7-9), Rutgers-Camden received four kills and five digs from sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East). Sophomore Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) added five assists, one ace and six digs, while freshman Elizabeth Sitler (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon) added five digs. Sophomore Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) notched two kills, one ace and two digs.

In the loss to DeSales, Lo had 10 digs, six assists and one kill, while Polite notched nine digs, one block, one ace, one assist and four kills. Sitler added two kills, one ace, one assist and six digs.

Rutgers-Camden travels to Rowan University for a 7 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference match Tuesday.

Wilmoth helps Ursinus volleyball
sweep past Rutgers-Camden

Hansen powers William Paterson
to sweep over Rutgers-Camden volleyball

CAMDEN (Sept. 25, 2007) – Senior setter Dana Hansen (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) collected 21 service aces, 12 assists, six digs and three kills to power the William Paterson University volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep over Rutgers University-Camden in a New Jersey Athletic Conference match here Tuesday evening.

The Pioneers won by scored of 30-9, 30-8 and 30-11 as they raised their record to 12-2 overall and evened their NJAC mark at 2-2.

Rutgers-Camden falls to 0-13 and 0-3.

William Paterson took a 19-1 lead in the opening game and was in control the rest of the night behind the serving of Hansen. Senior opposite hitter Tamara Miller (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) added nine kills, six digs and one service ace for the Pioneers, who had 27 aces on the night.

Sophomore Kelly Helfrich (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) notched six digs, two kills and one block. Freshman Jillian Bronowich (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) notched five assists and three digs for the Pioneers, while sophomore Samantha Reed (Dumont, NJ/Dumont) collected seven digs and one kill.

For the Lady Raptors, sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had 12 digs and seven kills, while freshman Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) notched 10 assists and four digs.

Both teams return to action Thursday with non-conference road matches. William Paterson plays a 6 p.m. match at Hunter College and Rutgers-Camden travels to Ursinus College for a 7 p.m. match.

Burnham powers Montclair State
over Rutgers-Camden volleyball

MONTCLAIR (Sept. 20, 2007) – Sophomore middle blocker Kara Burnham (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) collected 13 kills and the Montclair State University volleyball team had 20 aces as it snapped a three-match losing streak with a 3-0 sweep of Rutgers-Camden in New Jersey Athletic Conference action here Thursday evening.

The Red Hawks won the match by the scores of 30-16, 30-19 and 30-7 to raise their record to 8-6 overall and 2-1 in the NJAC. The Lady Raptors fell to 0-12 and 0-2.

Setter Raisa Silva (Newark, NJ/East Side) collected 32 assists and six service aces for Montclair State.

For the Lady Raptors, freshman setter Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) had three kills, seven assists, one ace and three digs, while sophomore Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) notched three kills, two aces one solo block, one assisted block and one dig. Sophomore Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) had three kills and four digs, sophomore Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) collected three digs and one kill and freshman Elizabeth Sitler (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon) had a team-high five digs.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Tuesday with a 7 p.m. NJAC match at William Paterson University.

Richard Stockton posts sweep
over Rutgers-Camden volleyball

CAMDEN (Sept. 18, 2007) – The defending New Jersey Athletic Conference champion Richard Stockton College volleyball team swept past Rutgers University-Camden, 3-0, in a conference match here Tuesday.

The Ospreys, 6-6 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC, won by scores of 30-3, 30-11 and 30-18.

Junior setter Christine Aletras (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) had 41 assists, seven aces, 12 digs and two kills for the Ospreys (6-6 overall, 2-0 NJAC), while junior middle hitter Audrey O’Donnell (Bogota, NJ/Immaculate Heart) notched eight kills and nine digs. Junior outside hitter Amanda Burkart (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) collected 18 kills and nine digs, while the Ospreys received five digs apiece from freshmen defensive specialists Jessica Hansen (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) and Christine Astarita (Selden, NY/Newfield).

For the Scarlet Raptors, sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) collected five kills, while sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) added three. Freshman setter Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) added two aces, an assist and a kill.

Stockton hosts Ramapo College Thursday at 7 p.m.

Rutgers-Camden (0-11 overall, 0-1 NJAC) plays at Montclair State University Thursday at 7 p.m.

Rosemont, Bryn Mawr sweep
Rutgers-Camden volleyball team

ROSEMONT, Penn. (Sept. 15, 2007) – The Rutgers-Camden volleyball team was swept in a pair of matches at Rosemont College here Saturday, losing 3-0 to both Rosemont and Bryn Mawr College.

Rosemont beat the Raptors, 30-19, 30-15 and 30-28 and Bryn Mawr won by scores of 30-14, 30-13 and 30-14.

In the loss to Rosemont, Rutgers-Camden (0-10) received a fine all-around effort from sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) and sophomore setter Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West). Childers had nine kills, one assist, one dig and two blocked shots, while Lo had five kills, two assists and three aces. Freshman Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) also had a fine match with 10 assists, four aces, two kills and two digs, while freshman outside hitter Tenisha Brown (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) added three kills and two digs.

In the Bryn Mawr match, Lo had six kills, one assist, three aces and seven digs. White added nine assists, two aces, three digs and one kill.

Rutgers-Camden entertains Richard Stockton College Tuesday at  7 p.m. in its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener.

Immaculata volleyball team
topples Rutgers-Camden

IMMACULATA, Penn. (Sept. 12, 2007) – Immaculata University swept past the Rutgers University-Camden volleyball team, 30-10, 30-11, 30-12, in a non-conference match here Wednesday.

Rutgers-Camden sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) collected five kills, two aces and five digs, while sophomore setter Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) added four assists and one dig.

Sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) notched two kills, one dig and one block, while freshman outside hitter Elizabeth Sitler (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon) had four digs. Freshman outside hitter Tenisha Brown (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) added one kill, one assist, two aces and three digs.

Rutgers-Camden (0-8) travels to Rosemont, Penn., Saturday for a tri-match at Rosemont College. The Raptors play Rosemont at 11 a.m. and Bryn Mawr College at 1 p.m.

Goucher, Villa Julie sweep
Rutgers-Camden volleyball

BALTIMORE (Sept. 8, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden volleyball team was swept in a pair of matches at Goucher College here Saturday, losing 3-0 to both Villa Julie College and the host Goucher Gophers.

Villa Julie defeated the Lady Raptors, 30-9, 30-16 and 30-17, while Goucher won by scores of 30-14, 30-21 and 30-13. Villa Julie also swept Goucher, 30-22, 30-28, 30-24.

Leading the way for Rutgers-Camden was sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), who had 11 digs, four blocks and four kills against Villa Julie and four kills, seven digs and four blocks against Goucher.

Sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) collected four kills and five digs against the Mustangs and two kills, one block and five digs against the Gophers, while sophomore setter Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) notched seven assists, eight digs and four kills against Villa Julie and 12 digs and two kills against Goucher.

Rutgers-Camden (0-7) travels to Immaculata, Penn., Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match against Immaculata University.

Valley Forge Christian tops
Rutgers-Camden volleyball

PHOENIXVILLE, PA (Sept. 5, 2007) – The Rutgers University-Camden volleyball team won its first game of the season, but lost its match, 3-1, here Wednesday against Valley Forge Christian College.

The Patriots (2-0) won the match, 30-20, 24-30, 30-17 and 30-14, as they dropped the Lady Raptors to 0-5.

Lading the way for Rutgers-Camden was sophomore outside hitter Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical), who collected four kills, five digs and five solo blocks. Sophomore setter Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) collected two kills, nine assists, four aces and 14 digs, while sophomore middle hitter Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had four kills and one block.

A pair of freshmen outside hitters, Tenisha Brown (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) and Elizabeth Sitler (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon) and sophomore outside hitter Heather Pohorely (Lebanon, NJ/Hunterdon Central) also played well. Brown had seven digs, two aces and one kill, while Sitler notched six digs and one kill and Pohorely had two aces, two kills and one dig.

Rutgers-Camden travels to Baltimore Saturday for a tri-match at Goucher College, which includes Villa Julie College.

Lady Raptors drop two matches
at Haverford College Invitational

HAVERFORD, PA (Sept. 1-2, 2007) – The Rutgers-Camden volleyball team opened its 2007 season at the Haverford College Tournament, where the Lady Raptors were swept in the two matches they played on Sept. 1 and didn’t field enough players for a team the next day, when their opponents advanced by forfeit.

In their opener, the Raptors lost to Arcadia University, 30-15, 30-13, 30-7. Later that day, they were swept by Villa Julie College, 30-14, 30-18, 30-6.

On Sept. 2, Rutgers-Camden was short of players for its return trip to Haverford and couldn’t play against St. Anselm College or Susquehanna University. The NCAA ruled those matches as forfeit defeats.

Against Arcadia, sophomore Julie Lo (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) collected four kills, while sophomore Marci Polite (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had three solo blocks and two kills. Freshman Krista White (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) led the team with five assists.

In the Villa Julie match, Polite had four digs, two blocks and two kills, while White had nine assists. Sophomore Ebony Childers (Stratford, NJ/Camden County Technical) had a team-high four kills.

Rutgers-Camden plays a 7 p.m. match Wednesday at Valley Forge Christian College.