Women's Tennis | 2/7/2016 11:13:00 PM

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ—The NJIT women's tennis team picked up its first victory of the 2016 season with a 5-2 decision over LIU Brooklyn Sunday at The Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility.

NJIT (1-1) earned the doubles point, taking two of three doubles contests, while taking four out of six singles contests from the visiting Blackbirds (0-2) to earn the win.

Freshman Rafaella Sampaio won the first singles contest, 4-1, by default, at third singles against Caroline Koenigsfeldt.

LIU Brooklyn won the next two points, picking up wins at second and first singles, but it was the Highlanders, who closed out the match, battling three set matches for the win.

"Great job by the Highlanders," coach Ira Miller added. "Three of the five points we earned came from winning close three-set matches. Our hard work in practice has paid off."

Sophomore Alba Rosas Garcia won 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 at fourth singles, defeating Rianne van Son.

Freshman Amanda Helminsky followed with a three set thriller, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 against Meriam Rhallab.

Natalija Tasovac recorded a tight three-set winner, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (8), 10-8 victory at the sixth spot, topping Isabella Wagener.

In doubles action, Sampaio and Helminsky teamed for a 6-1 victory at second doubles, topping van Son and Malin Leysen.

NJIT duo Ines Vujkovac and Rosas Garcia came out on top, 7-5, at the third spot against Whalla and Wagener.

The Highlanders will return to action on Wednesday, when they host Marist at 4pm in The Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility.