Box Score
 
NEW ROCHELLE, NY– Senior outside hitter Janet Snell registered 12 kills and 19 digs and senior setter Anna Mercado collected 27 assists, but it wasn't enough for the NJIT women's volleyball team to get past Iona Wednesday night.
 
After winning the first set in a 26-24 thriller, the Highlanders (1-3) lost the next three sets by scores of 25-18, 25-15 and 25-20, as Iona evened its seasonal record to 2-2 in the process.
 
The Highlanders came from behind to win the opener. Trailing 24-23 and facing game point, Snell made a huge block at the net to tie the game at 24-24. Senior outside hitter Renata Pandolfo recorded a service ace to give the Highlanders the lead, then Pandolfo hit another serve that the Gaels' back line couldn't return properly, giving the Highlanders the win.
 
NJIT jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the second set, thanks to two kills from Snell, but couldn't withstand the rush from the Gaels. Ellen Carbury held the serve for the Gaels for five straight points, giving Iona solid control of the set.
 
In the third set, the Highlanders never led. Iona scored the first three points and kept going from there. The closest the Highlanders got was 16-13 on a kill from freshman middle hitter Nina Vukotic, but the Gaels outscored the Highlanders, 9-2, the rest of the way to secure the victory.
 
Iona put a capper on the night by winning the fourth set. After a service error enabled the Highlanders to tie the game at 11-11, Iona took the lead on a kill from Madisyn Spence and never trailed the rest of the way.
 
For the Highlanders, Mercado had 14 digs to go along with her 27 assists. Pandolfo led the way with 30 digs. Freshman outside hitter Fran Edmondson also had 12 kills for the Highlanders.
 
NJIT will return to action this weekend at the Volley in the Valley Tournament at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Write-up by James Hague