CALDWELL, N.J.- Junior Katrina Janssen (Seville, Australia) totaled 18 kills to help lead the Caldwell University volleyball team to a 3-2 victory against the Molloy College Lions in the Cougars home opener. The Cougars improve their record to 4-1, while the Lions fall to 0-5.
 
Caldwell took the first two sets by identical 25-21 scores but the Lions rallied to take the next two sets by also identical scores of 25-20. In the fifth and deciding set, Caldwell opened up a 4-1 lead but Molloy closed the gap to 6-4. The Cougars pushed ahead 9-4 and 13-5 as they took the final set 15-7.
 
In the victory, Janssen tallied a match-high 18 kills, while adding four total blocks. Junior Taryn Auyong (Honolulu, Hawaii) chipped in 13 kills and eight digs, while freshman Avery Stanechewski (Tampa, Fla.) posted a career-best 12 kills along with four blocks. Junior Gabrielle Bennett (San Antonio, Texas) led the team with 23 assists, while adding 10 digs, while sophomore Jordan Hoffman (Colorado Springs, Colo.) posted a double-double line with 28 assists and 21 digs along with seven kills. Junior Jessica Mitchell (Plainfield, Ill.) posted a team-best 24 digs, while sophomore Melanie Krpec (Katy, Texas) totaled six kills and 15 digs.
 
The Cougars are back in action as they compete in the Georgian Court University Tournament Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10. Caldwell opens with West Chester University at 10 am and Southern New Hampshire at 4 pm on Friday and closes out with Bentley University at 12 pm and NYIT at 2 pm on Saturday.