Box score

HOUSTON—Isis Gardner posted a match-best 16 kills Thursday night, leading Houston Baptist to a 3-0 Great West Conference women's volleyball win over visiting NJIT.

 

Houston Baptist, which had defeated the Highlanders 3-0 in their first meeting in Newark on September 25, took the second leg of the season series with NJIT in a competitive match. After a relatively comfortable 25-18 win in the first set, the Huskies took the next two set by close scores of 25-23 and 25-22. There were five ties and three lead changes in the 25-23 second set.

 

With Gardner leading the hitting, Victoria Weatherly compiled 34 assists for HBU (6-3 Great West, 15-10 overall).

 

Courtney Whittleman, with three services aces, led the winners to a 7-1 edge in that category and her 22 digs were also tops in the match. Heather Leaverton added 12 digs. Leaverton added three block assists, joining Ashlee Karg (4 total blocks) in leading that department for Houston Baptist.

 

NJIT's kills leader, at 12, was senior Baaba Hughes and sophomore setter Anna Mercado picked up 13 assists for the Highlanders. Julia Colombo served her team's only assist of the night.

 

Audrey Snell was the digs leader for NJIT at 13 and the blocking lead was shared by Fernanda Lima and Catherine Leung, with three block assists apiece.

 

The Highlanders (2-6 Great West, 4-17 overall) will complete their Texas swing on Saturday at noon (CT) when they travel to Edinburg for another Great West matchup with Texas-Pan American.

 

The Broncs won the first meeting this season against the Highlanders, prevailing 3-0 in Newark on September 23.