Jersey City, NJ:  New Jersey City University appeared to have another New Jersey Athletic Conference sweep in hand, before Ramapo College staved off two matches points in the third set and rallied to stun the Gothic Knights in five games, 19-25, 19-25, 28-26, 25-19, 15-11, in a NJAC match on Tuesday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

NJCU had a chance to take a major step towards securing a bye into the New Jersey Athletic Conference for the fourth consecutive season. Now, in the race for second place in the conference standings, a log jam exists with the top three teams in contention. NJCU swept Montclair State on the road, MSU defeated Ramapo in Mahwah, 3-0, and RCNJ edged NJCU in Jersey City, 3-2. In head-to-head sets among the trio of teams, NJCU is 5-3, MSU is 3-3 and RCNJ sits at 3-5.

Ramapo (12-8, 4-2 NJAC) snaps an eight-match losing streak to the Gothic Knights (11-7, 4-2 NJAC) and now leads the all-time series, 18-17. The Knights had won 15 of their last 16 NJAC regular season matches prior to the loss.

The setback spoiled a career-effort by senior outside hitter Jacqueline LeBlanc (Westfield, NJ) who pounded out 24 kills and 17 digs while hitting .435 (24-4-46) and registered her 31st career double-double and fifth of the season. She reached 20 kills in a match for the fifth time, while eclipsing her previous career best of 22 kills achieved twice in back-to-back matches in November 2006.

Ramapo, which was playing its first road match since September 13 after a string of 11 consecutive home contests, was led offensively by three-time NJAC Rookie of the Week Kayla Anders (Harrington Park, NJ) who also posted an impressive effort with 22 kills (22-9-43), a .302 percentage, and nine blocks, including eight solo rejections. Behind her, RCNJ collected 12.0 total team blocks.

NJCU sophomore setter Alex Johanesen (Bridgewater, NJ) also had a career-high with 55 assists—nine more than her previous best of 46 in a five-set contest.

For Ramapo, freshman outside hitter Kimberly Runge (Closter, NJ) had a double-double of 12 kills and 14 digs, while sophomore middle hitter Tara Tielmann (Gillette, NJ) hit .429 with only one error on 10 kills (10-1-21), adding two solo blocks. The trio of Anders, Runge and Tielmann provided 44 of RCNJ's 54 kills.

Also for the Roadrunners, freshman setter Michelle Del Valle (Teaneck, NJ) dished 27 assists, while freshman setter Tiffany Fischer (Woodcliff Lake, NJ) added 20 assists in RCNJ's 6-2 offense. Freshman libero Elizabeth Steck (Marlton, NJ) finished with 13 digs in three sets.

Senior middle blocker Sarah Torres (Elizabeth, NJ) also reached double figures with 14 kills (14-9-37, .135), three blocks and two aces, while senior outside hitter Jennifer Carvalho (Rahway, NJ) landed 10 kills and two aces. Junior middle blocker Jennifer Hatch (Paterson, NJ) floored eight kills as she, LeBlanc, Carvalho and Torres combined for 56 of NJCU's 58 kills. Senior libero Lyanelly Negron (Union, NJ) defended 14 digs.

Leading 15-10 in set one, NJCU's advantage swelled to 20-13. The Roadrunners closed to 21-17 before kills by Hatch and Torres made it 23-17. A solo block by Torres closed the set, 25-19.

The second set was tightly contested early, with NJCU up 12-10, before a 7-2 spurt sparked the Knights to a 19-12 margin. Carvalho had two aces and Torres two kills during the run, before Torres capped the frame with another winner. NJCU hit .407 with 15 kills (15-4-27) during the set.

The Knights trailed 20-16 in the third set before unleashing a 5-0 streak to gain a 21-20 edge. A service error tied it before a one-handed solo block by Johanesen made it 22-21. RCNJ gained a 23-22 lead before sophomore opposite Theresa Carvalho (Rahway, NJ) chipped in a kill to tie it 23-23. RCNJ led 24-23 on another NJCU service error—one of 11 by the Knights. Back-to-back kills from Jen Carvalho tied it and then put the Knights in front, 25-24.

Facing match-point #1, Runge had a winner, before Anders had a rare attack error for 26-25, NJCU. However, on match point #2, Anders redeemed herself with a kill, a solo block, and another kill, as she single-handedly collected the final three points and gave RCNJ a 28-26 win. Anders had six kills and three solo blocks in the game.

RCNJ scored the first four points of the fourth set before NJCU rallied to take a 9-8 lead as LeBlanc slammed three kills in four swings. She had seven kills without an error (7-0-11) and hit .636 in the set.

But aided by eight Gothic Knight errors—seven attacking—the momentum turned towards Ramapo, as the Roadrunners scored 12 of the next 15 points to seize a 20-12 lead. Despite two kills late by LeBlanc, Runge, Tielman and Anders all provided a winner to win the set 25-19, and forced a decisive fifth frame. Anders had four solo blocks in the set.

RCNJ led 5-2 and 6-3 in the fifth before NJCU scored six consecutive points—aided by four Roadrunner attack errors—to pull ahead 8-6. But yet again, RCNJ rallied, scoring four points for a 10-8 lead. Consecutive kills by LeBlanc again forced a tie, 10-10. An NJCU attack error and winner from Runge—who had four kills in the abbreviated set—made it 12-10. LeBlanc tried to will the Knights back with her 24th kill of the night, before a setting error, and kills by Anders and Runge accounted for the final points as RCNJ won 15-11 to stun the Knights.

NJCU hit .160 overall (58-33-156) while RCNJ, ranked 19th in the nation in team hitting percentage, finished with a .172 clip (54-28-151).

NJCU will be back in action on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. when it visits Rowan University in an NJAC match in Glassboro, NJ. Ramapo next plays in the Widener Invitational on October 18.