Post Game Interview and Highlights with Benson and Hughes
NEWARK, NJ—Three players reached double-digit kills for NJIT led by senior middle
Mikalah Hughes with a match-best 13 kills in the Highlanders 3-0 non-conference sweep against visiting Delaware State Tuesday evening at the Fleisher Athletic Center.
NJIT, which dropped its previous three matches, got back into the win column Tuesday with a straight set victory, 25-22, 25-18 and 25-17, improving to 10-11 on the season. The 10 wins is one-shy the Highlanders win-output in 2016.
Delaware State drops to 1-18 on the season.
In addition to Hughes match-best 13 kills, senior
Tess Albyn followed with 12 kills and
Madi Busler with 11 kills. Hughes finished the match with an impressive .478 hitting percentage, including six digs and three block assists.
Sophomore
Liz Benson combined for 37 assists and six digs while senior
Alyssa Armada led the Highlanders with 10 digs followed by libero
Adriana Nieto (7), Benson (6) and Hughes (6).
Delaware State was led by Sabina Szmajduch's team-best seven kills. Setter Gabrielle Enriquez just missed notching a double-double with 19 assists and nine digs. Libero Alliyah McBean paced the match with 11 digs.
Defensively, NaKia Jones and Mayah Ngundamn combined for four total blocks (one solo, three assists).
In the first frame, the set saw 12 ties and five lead changes, with the final tie in the early 20's, 21-21, after a block assists by Delaware State's Jones and Szmajduch. The Highlanders used a 4-1 run to close out the set for a 25-22 victory. Hughes led the frame with six kills.
The home team jumped out to a 15-10 lead in the second set and later pushed its advantage to 21-16 on a kill by Hughes. After a point by the visiting Hornets, NJIT scored five consecutive points to earn the 25-18 victory. Hughes combined for four kills in the set.
In the final set, the Highlander took control early, 12-5, and never looked back, securing the 3-0 sweep, with a 25-17 victory.
NJIT will return to ASUN Conference action this weekend, first visiting Lipscomb on Friday at 6:30pm (CT) and Saturday at Kennesaw State at 7pm. The match at Lipscomb will be streamed live on ESPN3.
