Box Score
 
PHILADELPHIA—The NJIT women's volleyball team finished with a 2-2 record at the weekend season-opening La Salle Invitational, departing on a 3-1 victory over Loyola (MD) Saturday afternoon at Tom Gola Arena.
 
NJIT (2-2) held a 2-0 advantage after two sets, topping the Greyhounds 25-15 and 25-19.  Loyola (0-2) battled back in the third frame, taking the set 25-18, but the Highlanders came out on top in the fourth, 25-21, to earn the victory.
 
Junior Danica Vukotic led the way for the Highlanders with a match-high 15 kills on 29 attempts with five errors for a .345 hitting percentage.  Vukotic, who was named to the all-tournament team, added 7 digs, 3 service aces, 2 assists and 1 block assist.  In four matches, Vukotic compiled 37 digs, 36 kills, 8 sets and 7 service aces.
 
Senior outside hitter Fran Edmondson combined for 13 kills and 8 digs, while freshman outside hitter Tess Albyn hit .400 on 7 kills in 15 attempts with just one error.
 
Freshman setter Alyssa Armada continued her strong play at the setting position, pilling up a new career-mark and match-high 37 assists.  She has posted double-digit assist totals in the opening four contests for NJIT.
 
Libero Camilla Tinari notched a match-high 21 digs, while teammate Nina Vukotic followed with 10.  Albyn recorded four total blocks to lead NJIT in front of the net – three block assists and one solo.
 
Molly Cichosz was the only Greyhound to reach double-figure kill totals (12), followed by Jane Lukas (9) and Mindy Maloney (8).  Setter Lauren Anderson recorded 33 assists, while Kara Schiffer posted 12 digs on defense for the Greyhounds.
 
Loyola held a 10-to-7 advantage in service aces, led by Anna Eckstein (3) while three different players posted two aces each.  NJIT's Danica Vukotic notched 3 service aces in the win.
 
The first frame saw 7 ties, the last at 11-11, before the Highlanders rallied off three straight points to pull ahead of the Greyhounds 14-11.  NJIT finished out on a 3-1 run and the set final, 25-15, was the widest lead of the set for the Highlanders.
 
The Highlanders hit an impressive .357 in the second frame, paced by Danica Vukotic's 7 kills.  NJIT took control early, 7-1, and later pushed the lead to 15-7 on back-to-back Danica Vukotic kills.  The Greyhounds inched their way back, cutting the Highlander lead to 20-18.  After a timeout by NJIT, the Highlanders closed out the frame on a 5-1 spurt for a 25-19 victory.
 
Loyola won the third set, 25-18, as the Greyhounds hit .294, led by Lukas and Cichosz with 4 kills apiece.
 
The Highlanders jumped to a quick 7-2 lead in the fourth set.  Loyola rallied back, staying within three-to-four points of the Highlanders in the middle points. Down 14-18, the Greyhounds went on a 4-1 run and pulled to within a point, 18-19.  After what proved to be another momentum-changing timeout by NJIT's coach Peter Volkert, the Highlanders scored the next four points (three on kills by Danica Vukotic) for a 23-18 advantage.  Loyola would come as close as two, 21-23, but the Highlanders held on, as Albyn put down the final kill of the match for a 25-21 victory.
 
NJIT will return to action on Wednesday, September 3, when the Highlanders host Saint Peter's at 7pm in the home opener at the Fleisher Athletic Center.