Box Score 

NEW BRITAIN, CT – The New Jersey Institute of Technology women's volleyball team extended its season-opening winning streak to five straight matches, taking a 3-0 decision over Hartford Friday night in the opening round of the Central Connecticut Blue Devil Invitational.

The Highlanders swept, 25-17, 25-11 and 25-18 to remain unbeaten in the 2009 season.  Hartford falls to 2-3 on the season.

Senior Katrina Hornstein and Baaba Hughes shared game-high honors with 11 kills while Kristy Haeckel, NJIT's most efficient attacker, registered 7 kills on 10 attempts with one error for a .600 attack percentage for the match.  Sophomore Renata Pandolfo notched six kills.  Senior setter Erica Schultz piled up a match-high 30 assists.

On the defensive end, libero Sabrina Baby paced the Highlanders with 16 digs followed by Pandolfo (15) and Hornstein (10).  Schultz posted nine.

The Highlanders had an advantage in service aces 6-1, led by Haeckel with three.

For Hartford, Kami Nethersole posted nine kills and six digs.  Lindsay Ford tallied 24 assists while Danielle Etta recorded a match-high 19 digs while teammate Maddison Molyneux followed with 13.

NJIT will wrap up the two-day tournament facing host Central Connecticut on Saturday at 1:30pm and Manhattan at 4pm.