NEW YORK, N.Y. – The John Jay women's volleyball team battled Montclair State on Thursday evening at The Doghouse, taking a set from the Red Hawks for the first time in nearly nine years before falling, 3-1 (16-25, 25-22, 20-25, 18-25).
The Bloodhounds moved to 3-5 on the season, while Montclair State improved to 7-2.
John Jay's 25-22 second-set win marked the first set the Bloodhounds have won against Montclair State since October 7, 2017, when John Jay recorded a 25-19 third-set victory in that matchup.
John Jay finished Thursday's match with 43 kills, just two fewer than Montclair State's 45, while holding a 7-6 block advantage. The Red Hawks created separation from the service line, finishing with 14 aces compared to four for the Bloodhounds.
Emilia Cascapera paced John Jay with a match-high 17 kills while adding seven digs, three assists and an ace.
Ansley Hobson and
Kynzie MacInnes each recorded 10 kills. Hobson hit .292 and added eight digs and three blocks, while MacInnes collected 12 digs.
Caroline Guerney directed the offense with a match-high 26 assists and five digs. The 26 assists set a new career-high for the senior setter.
Lizbeth Martinez registered 12 digs and three service aces, while
Madison Mullan led the Bloodhounds at the net with five blocks.
Montclair State controlled the opening set after using an extended run to build an 18-7 advantage. John Jay kept fighting and scored eight of the next 14 points, but the Red Hawks closed out the frame, 25-16. The Bloodhounds answered emphatically in the second set. After trailing 12-8, John Jay steadily chipped away at the deficit. The Bloodhounds pulled within 15-14 and later erased an 18-15 deficit behind kills from Cascapera and Hobson and a Martinez service ace. With Montclair State holding a 20-18 advantage, John Jay put together a pivotal 7-2 closing run. Hobson brought the Bloodhounds within one with a kill before John Jay eventually pulled even at 20-20. Mullan and Cascapera helped fuel the late surge before Hobson delivered the set-clinching kill for a 25-22 victory.
The third set remained competitive early before Montclair State created separation with a run that turned a 9-8 contest into a 15-8 advantage. John Jay responded, with Cascapera contributing to a push that brought the Bloodhounds within 16-13. John Jay made another late push behind kills from MacInnes, Cascapera and Hobson, closing the gap to 23-20. Montclair State answered with the final two points to secure the set, 25-20, and regain a 2-1 advantage.
In the fourth, John Jay jumped in front 2-1 before Montclair State responded and eventually opened an 8-3 advantage. The Bloodhounds kept fighting and later used a Martinez ace and a Mullan block to close to 16-14. The Red Hawks answered by scoring seven of the next eight points to take command. John Jay fought down the stretch, but Montclair State secured the 25-18 victory to close out the match.
Bryn Bautista led Montclair State with 14 kills and 12 digs, while Aleena Whitehead collected a match-high 23 digs and six service aces. Lucy Cornelius handed out 36 assists.
John Jay returns to action on Saturday, September 19, when the Bloodhounds host a tri-match at The Doghouse. The Bloodhounds will take on Wilkes at 11:00 a.m. The Colonels and the Cairn Highlanders will square off in the second match at 1:00 p.m. before John Jay returns to the court for the third match at 3:00 p.m.
