New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

BEVERLY, MA…Senior outside hitter JACQUELINE LeBLANC (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) notched her 27^th career double-double, including a match-high 18 kills, but New Jersey City University could not hold late leads in sets one and two, and dropped a 3-0 decision to Salve Regina University, 25-23, 26-24, 25-20, in the opening round of the Endicott College Invitational at the Post Center.

NJCU, which was the defending Endicott Invitational champions, falls into the loser's bracket while starting a season 0-2 for the first time since 2002. Salve Regina (1-1) avenged a loss to the Gothic Knights in the opening round of the 2007 tournament. The all-time series is even at 1-1.

LeBlanc, who missed most of the 2007 season with an injury, posted her 27^th career double-double and first since November 11, 2006, while increasing her career kills total to 1,102. She needs 42 more to pass Melissa Pablos for second place in program history.

LeBlanc hit .308 overall with 18 kills in 39 attempts (18-6-39), adding 11 digs. She was the only player on either squad with more than nine kills and had exactly half of NJCU's 36 winners.

Sophomore setter ALEX JOHANESEN (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) delivered 34 assists and three aces. Senior libero LYANELLY NEGRON (Union, NJ/Union) tallied 21 digs. Senior outside hitter JENNIFER CARVALHO (Rahway, NJ/Rahway) added 12 digs, nine kills and four aces.

For the Seahawks' freshman middle hitter Julianne Barry (Randolph, MA/Cardinal Spellman) had eight kills (8-3-19, .263) and five solo blocks and junior outside hitter Deanna Salter (Westwood, MA/Westwood) added eight kills (8-3-31, .161). Junior middle hitter Natalie Rubenoff (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Regional #7) had six kills (6-2-20, .200) and two solo blocks. Senior setter Rachael Cirella (Jamestown, RI/North Kingstown) had a double-double of 27 assists and 18 digs while senior libero Amanda Harmon (Dennis, MA/Dennis-Yarmouth) had 14 digs.

For only the second time in the last 165 matches played dating to September 2003, the Gothic Knights did not have any blocks. While NJCU did collect 55 digs, Salve Regina hit .206 overall (32-11-102). Meanwhile, NJCU's percentage was .022 (36-33-136).

In set one there were six ties and five lead changes, including an 18-18 tie. NJCU reeled off a 5-0 run to take a 23-18 lead after the Seahawks made four consecutive errors, but the Knights failed to capitalize on the large advantage as Salve concluded the set on a 7-0 run. After a Salve timeout, NJCU committed three straight attack errors before Barry tied the game with a kill, and gave the Seahawks a 24-23 lead with a solo block. An ace by freshman opposite Brianna Am (East Providence, RI/East Providence) closed the set.

NJCU could not take advantage of an outstanding opening set by LeBlanc who had seven of her team's 11 kills and hit .455 (7-2-11).

In set two, LeBlanc chalked up seven more kills (7-3-17, 235) and Carvalho chipped in six, as the two outsides had 13 of NJCU's 15 winners. A kill by Carvalho made it 16-13 as the Knights led for most of the frame. After the Seahawks closed to within 17-16, LeBlanc slammed back-to-back kills for another three-point lead, 19-16, before SRU gained a 21-20 margin after three straight errors followed by a Barry kill. Carvalho had a kill to tie it and two attack errors by the opposition gave NJCU back a two-point, 23-21 lead. Carvalho landed a kill for set point at 24-22 before the Seahawks again went on a late run, scoring the final four points of the set as NJCU made three straight attack errors. SRU received two solo blocks from Barry.

SRU built a 13-4 lead in set three and didn't trail again, although NJCU made it interesting late, closing to within 20-18 after LeBlanc buried consecutive kills.

NJCU will play two matches on day two of the tournament, starting with Keene State College (NH) at 10 a.m., 3-1 losers to Bowdoin College. Bridgewater State College (MA) or Emmanuel College will be the second opponent at 2 p.m.