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WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (18-9, 3-5 NJAC) punched its ticket to the 2014 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Volleyball Tournament with an emphatic 3-0 Senior Night victory against visiting Rutgers-Newark (16-11, 2-6 NJAC) Oct. 28.
 
The sixth-seeded Pioneers will play at third-seeded Kean (15-15, 6-2 NJAC) Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the first round at 7:00 p.m.
 
After opening up a 21-15 first-set lead, WP saw its advantage begin to slip away, eventually clinging to a 22-21 edge. Senior middle hitter Shauna VanDeRee (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) and senior setter Danielle Koukos (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) combined for two straight blocks and the Scarlet Raiders had an attack error to hand the Pioneers an opening 25-21 win.
 
Trailing 21-19 in the second, William Paterson got a kill and an ace from junior outside hitter/opposite hitter Nicole Spicer (Whiting, N.J./Manchester Twp.) to tie the score. Following a Rutgers-Newark attack error, Koukos and sophomore middle hitter Ariana Gomez (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) joined forces for a block, and Spicer and VanDeRee put down kills for a 25-22 victory.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to a 10-1 advantage in the third set, and thwarted any Scarlet Raider comeback hopes with a 25-13 win to clinch the victory.
 
Spicer posted 12 kills, 11 digs and four service aces, while VanDeRee tallied 11 kills and five total blocks (two solo). Koukos handed out 38 assists, senior outside hitter Daniella Salemo (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) contributed a double-double with 10 kills and a match-high 13 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Erin Roach (Clark, N.J./Union County Vo-Tech) added 10 digs.
 
Senior middle blocker Sharee Gordon led Rutgers-Newark with nine kills, freshman setter Nathalie Breining finished with 23 assists and sophomore defensive specialist Kathy Hormaza posted 10 digs.
 
After the match, the Pioneers honored their four seniors – setter Alaina Clark (Paramus, N.J./Paramus), Koukos, Salemo and VanDeRee.
 
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