NEWARK, N.J. (10/1/19) – Jesse Larkin and Zoe Strozewski combined for 26 kills as the Kean University women's volleyball team extended its winning streak to five matches and remained unbeaten in the New Jersey Athletic Conference with a 3-0 straight sets sweep of Rutgers-Newark on Tuesday evening.

Larkin tallied 13 kills and posted a .571 hitting percentage for the Cougars who improve to 15-6 overall and 4-0 in the NJAC. Comfort Akinbo totaled 16 kills for the Scarlet Raiders who fall to 10-7 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC.

Kean rolled in the opening set after scoring the first eight points and posting a .385 hitting percentage for the 25-20 victory. The middle set proved to be a little tighter with the Cougars surrendering an early 9-4 lead, before roaring back late with three kills and a block from Cailyn Ross. The final set proved to be déjà vu for Kean after holding an early 9-2 advantage, Newark erased the Cougars lead to 15-14. Kean closed the match on a 10-5 run with three kills from Larkin and two kills apiece from Sedona Gaard, Kayla Thornton and Strozewski.

During that run, Larkin tallied her 900th career kill and is now 100 away from the 1,000 kill plateau. Strozewski totaled 13 kills and posted a .476 hitting percentage, while Thornton recorded 10 kills, and Gaard finished with nine kills and nine digs. Brianna Calvano posted her seventh double-double of the season with 41 assists and 11 digs. Kortnee Nelson collected 12 digs, while Amanda DeLio totaled nine and both Michelle Froehlich and Jess Iacona tallied six.

Head Coach Don Perkins and the Cougars will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 8th, hosting the Profs of Rowan University at 7:00 p.m.