Box score
OREM, UT—NJIT opened play in the national Division I Independent Volleyball Championship postseason tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Providence Friday morning in Utah Valley University's Shurian Family Activity Center.
The Highlanders dominated the first set, 25-12, and then completed the sweep of the Friars, 25-18 and 26-24.
The win lifted NJIT to 18-13 on the season, while Providence is 15-17.
The 18 wins for the Highlanders move them ahead in their quest for the program's first 20-win season since was NJIT 23-12 competing at the Division III level in 1990. In any event, this season's 18 wins in the program's third season of Division I competition is the most since that 1990 season.
Friday's match followed a similar pattern to the regular season match between the two schools on October 31 on the first day of NJIT's Halloween Classic in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center. On that day, too, NJIT rolled in the first set (25-15), the second set was a bit closer (25-16) and the third set was tight (25-23).
The key to Friday's victory for the Highlanders was an outstanding team hitting percentage of .413 that nearly doubled Providence's .211. NJIT had 53 kills and just 10 errors in 104 attempts.
In the first set, the Highlanders had 16 kills and just two errors, while Providence barely had more kills than errors (8-to-6). Both teams hit well in the second set, but NJIT was better with a .515 hitting percentage (18 kills, 1 error, 33 attempts) to the Friars' .367 (14 kills, 3 errors, 30 attempts). Both teams cooled off in the third set.
NJIT's standout freshman Renata Pandolfo produced a double-double, notching 13 kills and 13 digs, while Baaba Hughes also finished with 13 kills, tying Pandolfo for match honors.
Erica Schultz produced a match-best 42 assists for the Highlanders and Sabrina Baby was close behind Pandolfo for match digs honors, with 12. Pandolfo also had two individual blocks, one solo and one assisted, to lead NJIT in that category.
NJIT also picked up nine kills from senior Agnieszka Pregowska and eight kills with only one error from Katrina Hornstein, while Schultz added six kills without an error from her setter spot,
Providence got a strong attacking match from Elizabeth Flynn, who generated 11 kills and only one error in 26 swings for a .385 hitting percentage. Sara Sheehan had 24 assists for the Friars and Flynn and Jeanette Toney each had a block solo and a block assist. Aida Cadres and Kelly Krahenbuhl collected eight digs apiece for the Friars.
The Highlanders are slated to face Cal State Bakersfield later on Friday before taking on host Utah Valley and Texas Pan-American to complete tournament play on Saturday.
The NJIT-Cal State Bakersfield match is set for a 4:30 pm Mountain Standard Time start.
