NEW BRITAIN, CT – The New Jersey Institute of Technology women's volleyball team stayed hot defeating Central Connecticut State and Manhattan, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at the Central Connecticut State Blue Devil Invitational for the Highlanders seventh win, as they raised their record to 7-0 on the season.

NJIT swept Manhattan, 25-15, 25-19, 25-18 to remain unbeaten early in the 2009 season.

The Highlanders, which had a .287 team attack percentage, compared to .118 for Manhattan, got 14 kills from Katrina Hornstein, who had just one error in 30 attempts for a .433 attack percentage in NJIT's second match of the day.

Sophomore Renata Pandolfo had 13 kills and senior Kristy Haeckel produced a .286 attack percentage (6 kills, 2 errors, 14 attempts). Baaba Hughes (7 kills) was also effective, while three different Highlanders added three.

Senior Sabrina Baby led the Highlanders with a match-high 30 digs, while freshman middle blocker Fernanda Lima had a team-leading 4 blocks.  Setter Erica Schultz notched her third double-double of the season matching her season-high with 39 assists to go along with 11 digs.

Diane Struther's 12 kills led the Manhattan attack while Laura Bellotti registered 22 assists.  Julie Bies posted 17 digs on the defensive end.  

In Saturday's first match, the Highlanders took a 25-21, 25-16, 25-16 victory downing host Central Connecticut State led by three Highlanders -- Haeckel, junior Hughes and Pandolfo each notching 10 kills apiece.

NJIT's Schultz piled up a season-high 39 assists surpassing her old mark of 37 registered on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 in the Highlanders home opener against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Libero Baby posted 21 digs for the Highlanders followed by Pandolfo (14) and Hornstein (11).  Hughes added eight.

The Blue Devils were led by Blaike King with eight kills and 15 digs.  Kaitlin Petrella notched a match-high 28 digs.  Splitting time at the setting position, Amanda Bayer combined for 17 assists while Danielle Gasser added 11.

NJIT grabbed set one with a 25-21 victory behind Hornstein who posted 5 kills on 13 attempts with two errors.  Haeckel and Hughes recorded three kills in the set while Schultz dished out 13 assists.  For the Blue Devils, Jaime Baumert and Emily Cochran each recorded four kills.

NJIT took the second and third frame by identical scores, 26-16.  Pandolfo led NJIT in the second set with 6 kills on 10 attempts with no errors for a .600 hitting percentage. 

The Highlanders will return to action on Wednesday, September 9 at 4pm when they host Sacred Heart in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.

Immediately after match, approximately 5:30 pm the women's volleyball team is running a Free Girl's Volleyball Skills Clinic.  Click here for more information.