Box Score
EASTON, PA— NJIT freshman Renata Pandolfo shared game-high honors with Lafayette's Alana Taylor posting 15 kills, leading NJIT to a 3-2 women's volleyball victory over Lafayette Tuesday night at Kirby Sports Center.
All three of the sets won by the Highlanders were close, as NJIT prevailed, 20-25, 28-26, 25-22, 17-25, and 15-13.
Tuesday's victory was NJIT's 12th of the season. The Highlanders, who are in their third season of Division I competition, won 13 matches in 2007 after winning 10 in their first season of Division I competition in 2006. They have nine more regular season matches scheduled, plus the National Division I Independent tournament hosted by Utah Valley the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Tuesday's match was also the fourth in just over a week for NJIT against members of the Patriot League. The Highlanders began by extending their school Division I-record winning streak to eight straight with a 3-1 win over Lehigh last Tuesday. The winning streak ended in a 3-0 loss to powerful Army a day later on Wednesday and then the Highlanders fell just short in a 3-2 loss at perennial Patriot League champion American over the weekend on Saturday, before Tuesday's 3-2 win at Lafayette.
NJIT senior Agnieszka Pregowska had 12 kills against Lafayette for the second-highest total on the team while Juliana Araujo added nine kills. Junior Erica Schultz shared the setting duties with senior Danielle Thompson and the two combined for 45 assists—29 by Schultz.
Libero Sabrina Baby was the top server for NJIT, coming away with three aces, followed by Pregowska and Hornstein with two each.
Baby led the NJIT defense on the floor with 20 digs. Katrina Hornstein had 12 digs and Pandolfo added 11. Pregowska, Kristy Haeckel and Araujo were the blocking leaders for NJIT picking up four blocks apiece – Pregowska (3BS, 1BA), Haeckel (1BS, 3BA) Araujo (1BS, 3BA).
Lafayette had four players with double-figure kill totals, led by Taylor's 15. Kayly Elmer had 14 kills, Ally Taylor notched 12 and Cara Mulholland picked up 10 kills.
Having completed their slate of Patriot League foes for 2008, the Highlanders will travel to Fairfield, CT, and take on Sacred Heart of the Northeast Conference on Friday at 7 pm.
