William Paterson University Athletics

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – William Paterson volleyball (0-5, 0-5 NJAC) closed out its regular season with a 3-0 road loss to Montclair State (4-1, 4-1 NJAC) March 16.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Kills from outside hitters Kathleen Burrough (North Burlington, N.J./North Burlington) and Hannah McErlain (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) bookended a 4-0 run that gave WP an 11-8 edge in the first. MSU pushed ahead 14-12, but the Pioneers clawed back and moved in front, 20-18 on a kill from Gabriella Pimentel (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus). The Red Hawks scored six of the next eight points and held a 24-22, but the Pioneers leveled the score at 24-24 before dropping the opener 26-24.
• MSU offense began to click in the second, as the hosts hit .344 (12 kills, one error, 32 attempts) in the frame and won going away, 25-11.
• Trailing 19-9 in the third, Kayla Nelson's (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Technical Institute) service ace, and kills by Jamie O'Shea (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) and McErlain, punctuated a WP scoring spree that made it a two-point contest (22-20), but MSU regrouped and took the set, 25-20.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Outside hitter Dakota Apicella (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) led all players with 19 digs and hit a team-best eight kills.
• Libero Taylor Crowley (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) chipped in 12 digs, her second double-digit effort of the season, and Pimentel added eight defensive scoops and five kills.
• In her first action at the setter position, Nelson handed out 22 assists to go along with five digs and two aces.

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson travels to Kean for its quarterfinals matchup of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m.

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