LEWISBURG, PA—The NJIT women's volleyball team absorbed a 3-2 defeat against Iona at the Bucknell Invitational Friday afternoon in the 2017 season opener for both teams.

NJIT (0-1) had to overcome a 2-0 deficit after Iona won the first two sets, 25-17 and 25-22.  The Highlanders rallied back to take the third and fourth frames by identical scores, 25-19, sending the match into a deciding fifth set.

In the deciding set, Iona jumped out to a 6-2 advantage, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  Iona kept the pressure on, extending its lead to 9-4, after a block assist from Mia Bonsignore and Tess Connolly.  NJIT pulled to within four of Iona, 8-12, but the Gaels scored the final three points of the set for a 15-8 victory.

NJIT junior transfer Iva Mandic led the Highlanders with 10 kills followed by co-captain Adrianne Bynoe, Madi Busler and Tess Albyn each combining for nine kills.  Middle Mikalah Hughes added eight kills.

Bynoe put together a strong performance hitting .333 on 21 attempts and two errors for the Highlanders.

Junior setter Emily Krachenfels piled up 30 assists, including seven digs.  Three different Highlanders notched double-digit digs, led by sophomore transfer Alahna Diaz with 17 followed by co-captain Adriana Nieto (16) and Olivia Welsch (10).

Both teams were even in team blocks, 7-to-7.  NJIT's Bynoe shared match-best honors with Bonsignore with five total blocks.  Mandic added three block assists while Hughes, Busler and Krachenfels combined for two assists.

Iona led the service ace category, 9-to-7, but NJIT's Nieto led the match with five aces followed by Welsch with two.  Iona's Claire Archibald combined for four aces.

The Gaels (1-0) were paced by Archibald and Tess Connolly with 14 kills apiece while Bonsignore added 11.  Archibald recorded a double-double in the match with 14 kills and 13 digs.  Bonsignore notched a .500 hitting percentage on 20 swings and just one error in the match.

Setter Emma Rose led the match with 44 assists and added seven digs while Taylor Cole notched a match-best 19 digs.

In the third frame, NJIT came out on fire, taking a 10-1 lead.  Iona rallied back, pulling within four of the Highlanders, 8-12, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  The Highlanders held a comfortable lead late in the set, 20-14, but the Gaels scored three straight points, closing the gap to within four, 19-24.  After a timeout by NJIT, the Gaels recorded a service error and NJIT went on to win 25-19.

NJIT kept its momentum going into the fourth set, jumping ahead early, 7-2, and extending its lead to 13-3.  The Gaels slowly closed the Highlander gap to within eight, 11-19 and then six, 13-19, resulting in NJIT to take both timeouts.

The Highlanders went ahead 23-14 but the Gaels scored four straight points, slimming the lead to five, 18-23.  NJIT scored the last two out of three points and held on for the 25-19 victory.

NJIT will return to action on Saturday against Saint Peter's at 12:30pm and close out the Bucknell Invitational against La Salle at 5:30pm.

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