Box score
HEMPSTEAD, NY—Hofstra rolled to a 3-0 (25-185, 27-25, 25-16) non-conference women's volleyball sweep over visiting NJIT Tuesday evening.
Carolyn Jenkins led victorious Hofstra with 14 kills, while Nikki Kinnear and Marina Markovic added nine kills apiece for the Pride. Rachel August had 39 assists for Hofstra, while she, Markovic and Jenna Cornell contributed two service aces apiece, as the home team enjoyed a 7-3 edge in that category.
Hofstra (7-17), which had a 7-2 edge in team blocking, was paced there by August and Jenkins, each of whom posted four block assists.
Kylee Maneja's 24 digs were match-best for Hofstra, followed by 10 for Markovic.
NJIT, which was undermined by too many errors attacking and serving, was paced in kills by freshman Katie Bartlett, with six. Setters Anna Mercado and Carly Ziemer collected eight assists each.
The Highlanders, who had a combined 30-10 service aces-to-reception error ratio in their previous three matches (wins against Chicago State and Lafayette, and a five-set loss to Seton Hall) managed just three aces at Hofstra.
Sisters Audrey Snell and Janet Snell were the defensive digs leaders for NJIT, with 15 and 12, respectively. Fernanda Lima, with two block assists, paced the Highlanders defense at the net.
NJIT, which never led in the opening set and lost, 18-25, was on the verge of drawing even, with leads throughout the second set. Breaking a 10-10 tie, the Highlanders went up 17-12 and stayed ahead all the way to the brink of set point, at 24-21.
But Hofstra's Jenkins notched three straight kills for a 24-24 tie. NJIT answered with what would be its final point for a 25-24 lead, but the Pride ran the next three points to pull out the set, as the two winnings points came on Highlander attack errors, one a hit into a Hofstra block and the other unforced.
Despite the disheartening finish to the second set, NJIT bounced back for leads of 4-1, 7-3, and 10-6 in the third set. However, down 11-13, Hofstra an off four straight points for a 15-13 lead and never again trailed. The Pride later closed the set with an 8-1 run for the 25-16 win.
NJIT (4-13) will play its final non-conference match of the season on Thursday, when it visits Sacred Heart for a 7 pm match in Fairfield, CT.
