NEWARK, NJ—Senior middle hitter Nina Vukotic led the Highlanders with a match-best 23 kills in a sweep of visiting Saint Peter's, 3-0, in women's volleyball non-conference action Wednesday evening at the Fleisher Athletic Center.

The Highlanders (6-15) got back into the win column after dropping their previous two Atlantic Sun Conference matches on the road, topping the Peacocks in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17 and 25-22.  The two teams previously met on September 30 in Jersey City, with the Peacocks taking the five-set thriller.

Nina Vukotic led the Highlander offense with a dominant performance, notching a match-high 23 kills on 41 attempts with just three errors for a .488 hitting percentage.  She also added 9 digs and 2 block assists.

Junior Anneka Harris and sophomore Alyssa Armada posted 6 kills apiece for the Highlanders.  Freshman setter Emily Krachenfels registered a match-best 33 assists while libero Adriana Nieto shared match-high honors with Saint Peter's Greta Varvell and Lauren Behrens, recording 11 digs.  Freshman Marija Tosic followed Nieto closely with 10 digs.

Sophomore middle Tess Albyn finished with a match-high 4 total blocks (1 solo, 3 assists), 3 kills and 2 digs for the Highlanders.

The service ace category was even at 5-5, led by Krachenfels and Nieto with 2 aces while Saint Peter's Kaitlyn Sitton and Behrens recorded 2 aces for the Peacocks.

Saint Peter's (3-14) senior right side hitter Lauren Behrens led the Peacocks with a double-double – 10 kills and 11 digs.  Freshman middle Marlena Budna added 6 kills and 7 digs for the visitors.
Junior setter Sitton piled up 19 assists while Budna and Amanda Colombo recorded 2 block assists apiece.

In the first frame, the score remained close early until the Highlanders went on a 5-1 run for a 14-9 advantage.  After a Peacock point, NJIT scored the next five, extending its lead to 19-10 on a kill by Nina Vukotic. 
With the Highlanders leading 24-14, Saint Peter's scored four straight before Nina Vukotic ended the set with a kill for a 25-18 win.  Vukotic posted 9 kills in the set.

In the second set, the Highlanders hit an impressive .368 (15 kills, 1 error, 38 attempts) paced by Nina Vukotic's 7 kills.  NJIT jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but the visiting Peacocks battled back, keeping the score close.  The set saw five early ties, the final at 9-9 on an NJIT service error.  NJIT rallied for a 7-1 spurt, taking a 16-10 advantage resulting in a Peacock timeout.   The Highlanders went on a 5-2 run that extended their lead to 20-13, and cruised to a 25-17 victory. 

Saint Peter's scored the opening two points of the third set but the Highlanders came right back for its first tie of the set a 4-4.  The set saw six more ties; the last at 14-14, as the Highlanders posted a 4-1 run to ease ahead 18-15 on a kill by Nina Vukotic. 

Saint Peter's made a late run in the third set, slimming the Highlander lead to two, 23-21, after a kill by Budna, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  After an NJIT attacking error, the Highlanders closed out the match with back-to-back kills by Harris and Vukotic for a 25-22 win.

NJIT will host Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Kennesaw State on Friday at 7pm in the Fleisher Athletic Center before hosting USC Upstate on Sunday at Noon.  The match on Sunday will be played at Essex County College.