PHILADELPHIA—NJIT swept Saint Francis U, 3-0, on opening day of the 2016 women's volleyball season, as the teams met on the first day of the La Salle Invitational held at Tom Gola Arena.
It was the season's first match for each team and the Highlanders scored a straight set victory 25-21, 25-18 and 25-21 to sweep the match.
NJIT's attack leader was senior right side
Katarzyna Klocek, who notched nine kills followed by outside hitter
Weronika Wiezik (8) and middle
Anneka Harris (7). Harris, the Highlanders co-captain, finished with a match-best .235 hitting percentage. Klocek and Wiezil, both transfers from Dowling College, made an immediate impact in their Highlander debut.
Liz Benson, NJIT's freshman setter, fed her teammates for a match-leading 21 assists in her college debut and the Highlanders served five aces, two apiece by freshman
Olivia Welsch and sophomore
Emily Krachenfels.
On defense, sophomore libero
Adriana Nieto led the Highlanders with 18 digs, while Wiezik added 13. At the net, Harris's five total blocks (2 solo, 3 assists) led the victorious Highlanders. Junior middle
Tess Albyn recorded three blocks assists followed by Klocek with two block assists.
Saint Francis U senior outside hitter Breanna Opera led the match with 15 kills while sophomore setter Amelia Metzler collected 20 assists.
Defensively, libero Jenna Veres notched a match-best 20 digs followed by junior Kelsey Roush with 12. In front of the net for the Red Flash, Esposito registered seven block assists while Emily Marcinowski added four blocks (all assists).
NJIT scored the first point of the day but the Red Flash took an early 7-4 advantage. The Highlanders quickly got back into the set, rallying off seven straight points for an 11-7 lead and never looked back, closing out the set 25-21.
The Highlanders took control early in the second set with a 7-3 lead and extended the advantage to 17-12, resulting in a Saint Francis U timeout. The Red Flash used a 5-2 spurt to pull within two of the Highlanders, 17-19. After a timeout by NJIT, the Highlanders regrouped to claim six of the final seven points to score a 25-18 win.
The closest set of the match came in the third frame with the Highlanders, leading 13-10, after three consecutive points by the Red Flash. NJIT extended its lead to five, 17-12, but the Red Flash fought back late in the set, closing the Highlander gap to within one, 21-22, resulting in an NJIT timeout.
The Highlanders closed out the frame, scoring the final three points, securing a 25-21 win in the set and a 3-0 win in the match.
Both teams will continue Friday in the four team round robin tournament. The Highlanders will take on Morgan State at 5pm in the nightcap.
