NEW BRITAIN, CT—NJIT sophomore Danica Vukotic notched a career-high 29 kills, while adding 11 digs. But it wasn't enough, as the visiting Highlanders dropped a 3-1 decision to host Central Connecticut State at the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational Saturday afternoon.

The scores between the Blue Devils and Highlanders were all close with NJIT taking the first frame 25-23.  CCSU, which picked up its fifth straight victory of the season, won the next three frames by scores 25-20, 25-23 and 25-21 to earn the victory. 
 
The Blue Devils, also winners of its last six out of seven matches improve to 7-5 on the season while the Highlanders drop to 2-9. 
 
Danica Vukotic, an outside hitter from Serbia, set a new NJIT Division I record with 29 kills in four sets surpassing Baaba Hughes' mark of 25 against South Dakota on November 19, 2010.  Vukotic's 29 kill performance is the fourth time the sophomore has reached double-figure kills and second 20-kill performance.
 
NJIT senior Cathy Leung registered her fourth double-double of the season with 17 kills and 10 digs while Fran Edmondson combined for a double-double of her own with 25 assists, 10 digs and shared match-high honors with six total blocks.  Junior Gladis Oseguera added 22 assists for the Highlanders.
 
Junior libero Katie Goswick recorded a career and match-high 29 digs defensively for the visitors.  Goswick, who has appeared in seven matches, has notched double-figure digs in five out of seven contests. 
 
Middle hitters Gretchen VonKoenig and Valerie Carroll combined for nine blocks in front of the net for NJIT, as the Highlanders held a slight team blocking advantage, 10.0-to-9.0.
 
CCSU had three players reach double-digit kill totals paced by Cassidy Stankowski with 17 kills followed by Rachel Dunlap (15) and Heather Trueman (10).  Stankowski and Trueman each dug-up 13 digs for the home team while Brittany Schumacher led the team with 14 digs.  Amalia Ashley added 10 digs.
 
Setter Makenna Lommori recorded a match-high 47 assists and five block assists while Dunlap combined for six block assists.
 
The Blue Devils held a 10-to-2 service ace advantage led by Lommori and Veronika Ban with three apiece.
 
NJIT will wrap up the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational against Hartford.  The match is scheduled for 4pm.