BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NY—The NJIT women's volleyball team picked up two wins Saturday on the final day of the Terrier Invitational hosted by St. Francis Brooklyn, recording 3-1 wins over host St. Francis Brooklyn and Rider.
The Highlanders improve to 2-4 on the season defeating St. Francis Brooklyn, 14-25, 25-22, 25-23, and 25-17 and capped off the night with a 3-1 win over Rider, 25-23, 25-20, 18-25 and 25-21. The Terriers remain winless on the season (0-6) while the Broncs drop to 2-5 on the young season.
NJIT's Danica Vukotic was selected to the 2015 Terrier Invitational All Tournament team, guiding the Highlanders to a 2-1 mark in the tournament. She combined for 43 kills (3.91kps), 43 digs (3.91dps), seven service aces and six total blocks. Vukotic recorded three double-digit kill totals in the tournament, with a season-high 16 vs. Rider while combining for two double-doubles. Her 23 digs vs. Rider is a season-high for the senior.
NJIT vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
Senior outside hitter Danica Vukotic notched her third double-double of the season with a match-best 13 kills and 14 digs. Freshman Marija Tosic combined for nine kills, while Nina Vukotic recorded eight.
Emily Krachenfels, the Highlanders freshman setter, registered a season-best 36 assists and added nine digs and two block assists.
Danica Vukotic led the match with 14 digs, followed by Nina Vukotic (13), Tosic (11), and libero Adriana Nieto (11).
In the service ace category, the Highlanders held a 13-to-8 advantage led by NJIT twin sisters Danica and Nina Vukotic with three aces apiece. NJIT's Krachenfels, Tosic and Nieto all recorded two aces in the match.
Freshman Jovana Baosic led the match with six block assists, followed by Danica Vukotic (four block assists), and Tess Albyn and Nina Vukotic with three block assists.
St. Francis Brooklyn's Maggie Niu recorded a team-high 11 kills, while Angela Hudelson and Kelly O'Halloran split time at the setting posting, piling up 14 and 13 assists, respectively.
Libero Alexa Caporuscio had for 13 digs and Niehely Sosa recorded four block assists.
The Terriers took the first set, 25-14, finishing off the frame by scoring the final five points.
NJIT took an 8-3 lead in the second frame and later extended its advantage to 17-9. The Terriers cut the deficit to five, 15-20, but the Highlanders scored the next three points to pull away, 23-15.
St. Francis Brooklyn rallied back, scoring seven straight points for a one-point game, 22-23. But NJIT sealed a 25-22 victory in the set by scoring the final two points.
The Highlanders, who hit .300 in the third set, jumped out to a 6-2 lead. The Terriers cut the deficit to one, 5-6, but the Highlanders extended their lead and went up 15-11 on a Terrier error. St. Francis later tied the set at 21, but the Highlanders finished off the set on a 4-2 run for a 25-23 victory.
In the final set, the Highlanders scored the opening six points and later built a 14-6 advantage. The Terriers pulled within three of the visitors, 17-20, but the Highlanders again closed strong, scoring the final five points to secure a 25-15 set win, 3-1 for the match.
NJIT vs. Rider
NJIT senior Danica Vukotic put together another strong performance in the nightcap against the Broncs, combining for her second straight double-double with a match-best 16 kills and 23 digs. Nina Vukotic posted a double-double of her own with 13 kills and 11 digs.
NJIT setter Krachenfels recorded her sixth straight double-digit assists match with a match-best 33 assists to go with seven digs.
Danica Vukotic led the Highlanders defensively with a season-best 23 digs, followed by Marija Tosic (19), libero Adriana Nieto (12), and Nina Vukotic (11). Freshman Jovana Baosic paced the Highlanders with three total blocks (all assists) while three different Highlanders posted two block assists—Tess Albyn, Nina Vukotic and Anneka Harris.
NJIT held a wide margin in the service ace category—16-to-3—paced by Baosic and Nina Vukotic with four aces each, followed closely by Krachenfels and Danica Vukotic with three aces apiece.
Rider's Kaitlyn Griffin was the lone Bronc to post double-digit kills with 14. The Broncs used two setters—Brandie Hill and Veronica Koval, eaching notching 16 assists in four sets played. Four Broncs recorded double-digit digs led by Emma Aldaya (14), Ryan Ackermann (13), Brandie Hill (11) and Catie Harding (10).
Broncs' Griffin recorded a match-best six total blocks (four assists, two solo) while Ackermann notched four block assists.
NJIT will break and return to action at the Columbia Invitational. The Highlanders will face host Columbia on September 11 at 7pm and conclude the tournament on September 12 against American at 11 am and Northeastern at 4 pm.
