Oct. 3, 2006

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - Kubra Tanrikulu and Kristy Haeckel combined for 27 kills, leading New Jersey Institute of Technology past visiting Quinnipiac, 3-0, in women's volleyball Tuesday night.

The Highlanders won the first game easily, 30-19, before winning the next two games in closer fashion, 30-26 and 30-25.

The win for NJIT was its fourth overall and its first at home in two tries in its debut season of facing NCAA Division I competition.

The Highlanders' earlier wins all came in neutral site contests as part of tournaments. They defeated Manhattan and Howard at the American University Invitational and then Saint Peter's at Fordham's Rose Hill Classic, all in September.

Tanrikulu, the sophomore outside hitter, notched a match-leading 14 kills, while Haeckel, the freshman, checked in with 13 kills, plus just 3 attack errors in 24 attempts for a .417 hitting percentage.

Agnieszka Pregowska and Kasha Hornstein each had 9 kills, with Pregowska collecting 5 in the first game, as NJIT took control of the match. Pregowska had a match-best 16 digs, while Hornstein was credited with 11 digs.

Blocking was not much of a factor for either team (5-4 in team blocks, favoring Quinnipiac), but the Highlanders dominated the serving game, with a 15-4 advantage in service aces. Sabrina Baby led the way for NJIT, with 6 aces, while Tanrikulu notched four, followed by Pregowska and Haeckel, with two aces apiece.

NJIT sophomore setter Danielle Thompson's 38 digs were more than twice the total of any other player in the match.

Jenna Benigno had 7 kills and Crista Valentino collected 12 digs to lead the Hamden, Connecticut-based visitors.

The Highlanders will stay busy, visiting Easton, PA for a 7 pm match at Lafayette on Wednesday night.