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WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson volleyball team (12-2, 2-2 NJAC) dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to visiting Kean (7-10, 2-1 NJAC) Sept. 30.
 
The Cougars fended off the Pioneers for a 25-22 opening victory, and the two teams traded the lead back and forth in the second until a kill by sophomore outside hitter Erin Roach (Clark, N.J./Union County Vo-Tech), a service ace by junior outside hitter/opposite hitter Nicole Spicer (Whiting, N.J./Manchester Twp.) and a Kean hitting error resulted in a 25-22 WP win.
 
Three straight Kendall Sonico services aces pulled the Cougars even in the third, 20-20, but Spicer answered with three consecutive aces of her own, and Roach and senior outside hitter Daniella Salemo (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) later put away kills for a 25-22 victory. Senior setter Alaina Clark (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) served five aces in a six-point span to forge a 17-17 deadlock during the fourth set, but the Cougars pulled away for a 25-21 win. Kean seized control early in the fifth and finished the match with a 15-7 victory.
 
Spicer had 11 kills, 16 digs and five aces for WP, and Roach posted 11 kills and 11 digs. Clark contributed 34 assists and seven aces, while Salemo and junior outside hitter Michelle Merida (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) each tallied 13 digs and senior middle hitter Shauna VanDeRee (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) posted 12 digs.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Kassie Hernandez led all players with 27 kills for the Cougars, adding 13 digs. Senior setter Alana Aranjo dished 48 assists while collecting 15 digs, and junior defensive specialist Lisa DeGroot had 21 digs.
 
William Paterson will play in a tri-match Saturday, Oct. 4, taking on Brooklyn at 1:00 p.m. and host Mount Saint Mary at 3:00 p.m.
 
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