Box Score

Montclair, NJ (11/1/11) – Junior middle hitter Kristin Koloski (Cinnaminson, NJ / Cinnaminson) collected 14 kills while sophomore Morgan Halbruner (Voorhees, NJ / Eastern) added 12 kills as fifth-seeded Rutgers-Camden knocked off fourth-seeded Montclair State, 3-1 in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament at the Panzer Athletic Center on Tuesday evening.

Rutgers-Camden won the mat 23-25, 25-16, 25-16 and 25-20.

Junior setter Stephanie Miller (Cherry Hill, NJ / Cherry Hill East) posted 39 assists and 11 digs as the Scarlet Raptors (14-16) now advance to semifinals where they will face top-seeded Richard Stockton on Thursday, November 3 in Pomona.

Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Batiste (Manahawkin, NJ / Southern Regional) had 15 kills and 10 digs for Montclair State, which closed out its season at 12-18. The Red Hawks were ousted from the NJAC Tournament by Rutgers-Camden for the second straight season as the Scarlet Raptors registered a 3-0 victory in Camden in 2010.

Both teams finished tied in conference play at 3-4 however Montclair State earned the home court by virtue of its 3-0 win over the Scarlet Raptors on September 22.

MSU would win the opening set as Batistie had five kills and Sara Girgus (Green Brook, NJ / Watchung Hills) four. There were 10 ties in first set before Montclair went ahead 17-16 on a kill by Erika Gerner (Sparta, NJ / Sparta). A kill by Daniella Salemo (Ramsey, NJ / Ramsey) put the Red Hawks up 24-20 but Rutgers-Camden rallied with three straight points pulling within 24-23 before Salem closed out the set with her third kill as Montclair led 1-0.

The second set remained close through the first 20 points and was deadlocked at 101-10 when an MSU service error and kill by Koloski put the Scarlet Raptors up 12-10. After Batitse countered with a kill for the Red Hawks, Rutgers-Camden recorded nine of the next 10 points for a 21-12 advantage. Montclair State got back to 23-16, however Koloski registered consecutive kills as the Scarlet Raptors tied the match with the 25-16 victory.

Rutgers-Camden jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the third set and widened the lead to 11-6 as Koloski got one of her four kills in the set. The Scarlet Raptors would maintain that lead for the remainder of the set and finished it off with a kill by Halbruner to lead 2-1.

The fourth set was tied at 9-9 before Rutgers-Camden went on a six-point run to take control. An attack error by MSU started the spurt and back to back kills by Elizabeth Idler (Moorestown, NJ / Moorestown) and Koloski made the score 12-9. Montclair Sate then committed three errors as Rutgers-Camden led by six. Koloski fourth and final kill of the set brought the Scarlet Raptors to 24-16, however Montclair closed the game to 24-20 as Lauren Sharp (Mendham, NJ / West Morris-Mendham) had two kills. Libero Catherin Tedeja (Cherry Hill, NJ / Cherry Hill East) would end the match with a back-row kill as Rutgers-Camden took the match with a 25-20 win.

Rebecca Brown (Cherry Hill, NJ / Cherry Hill East) had eight kills and 21 digs for Rutgers-Camden while Olivia Murphy (Somerdale, NJ / Sterling) added seven kills and 18 digs. Tedeja, who finished with three kills, led all players with 24 digs.

Girgus collected eight kills for Montclair State while Salemo, Sharp  and Marta Topor (Bogota, NJ / Bogota) had six apiece. Libero Kaitlyn Irwin (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) posted 23 digs while Topor and Salemo had 17 and 16, respectively. Sophomore Angela Campo (Washington Township, NJ / Westwood) registered 38 assists and 13 digs.