Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (9-2, 1-2 NJAC) earned its first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) volleyball victory of the season, defeating visiting Kean (4-6, 0-2 NJAC) 3-0 Sept. 25.

The Pioneers sprinted out to a 25-6 victory during the first set, but the Cougars fought back to play a competitive second, forcing an 8-8 tie. Leading 14-12, William Paterson reeled off eight consecutive points for a 22-12 lead, eventually winning the second set 25-13. The third set was again a battle, as neither team was able to get out to a substantial lead. With the score tied at 19-19, the Pioneers used kills by junior Samantha Reed (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) and freshman Chi Chi Okeke (Newark, N.J./Science Park), a Kelly Helfrich (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) service ace and a Kean hitting error to take command at 23-19, eventually winning the deciding set 25-20.

Freshman Megan Maher (Wood-Ridge, N.J./Wood-Ridge), the current NJAC Rookie of the Week, led William Paterson with eight kills, adding 12 assists and five digs. Senior Mailyn Rodriguez (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) had seven kills, sophomore Jillian Bronowich (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) posted 12 assists, and Reed collected a team-best eight digs.

Sophomore Ivana Kapetanovic led the Kean attack with four kills, freshman Yesenia Velasquez set 12 assists, and classmate Mary Aldana had a team-best eight digs for the Cougars.


William Paterson will host Rutgers-Camden Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7:00 p.m.