BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NY—Junior Iva Mandic notched a team-best 17 kills for NJIT as the Highlanders dropped its first match of the 2017 Terrier Invitational in five sets, 3-2, against Maryland Eastern Shore at the Genovesi Center.

UMES (2-2) took the first set, 25-19, while the Highlanders (1-3) battled back in the second frame for a 25-23 victory to even the match at 1-1. 

The Shore Hawks went on to win the third frame, 25-22, but the Highlanders, down early in the fourth set, rallied back and forced a fifth and deciding set with a 27-25 victory.  UMES won the fifth set, 15-10 to secure the 3-2 victory.

In the deciding set, UMES jumped out to a 7-2 lead and later extended its advantage to 13-7.  NJIT scored the next three-out-of-four points but the Shore Hawks sealed the win with a kill by Rachel Kayongo.

The Shore Hawks were paced by sophomore outside hitter Iva Vujosevic, who notched a double-double with a match-best 20 kills and added 17 digs.  Kayongo, a junior outside hitter, was the other Shore Hawk to record double-figure kills with 12.

Setter Ivana Blazevic posted a double-double of her own, piling up 45 assists while adding 10 digs.  Vujosevic led the team with 17 digs followed by Maja Jankovic (13), Blazevic and Lucia Babic with 10 digs.

UMES held a 10-to-5 team blocking advantage paced by Vujosevic's seven digs (one solo, six assists) followed by Kirsten Fink's five block assists.

Vujosevic and Blazevic each notched three service aces, as the Shore Hawks led that category, 9-6.

In addition to Mandic's 17 kills, sophomore transfer Madi Busler combined for 15 kills while middle Mikalah Hughes added nine.

NJIT setter Emily Krachenfels posted 40 assists and added six digs while libero Adriana Nieto combined for a match-best 20 digs.  Sophomore Olivia Welsch added 10 digs followed by sophomore Alahna Diaz with nine.

Mandic and Adrianne Bynoe paced the Highlanders in front of the net, notching three blocks each.

The second was played close throughout the mid-teens until NJIT went ahead by three, 20-16, on block assists by Bynoe and Tess Albyn, resulting in UMES timeout.  The Shore Hawks scored the next two points, pulling within two of the Highlanders, 18-20.

NJIT built a four point lead, 23-19, on a kill by Albyn.  The Shore Hawks scored the next three consecutive points, slimming the Highlander gap to within one, 22-23, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  The Highlanders used a 2-1 run to close out the set with a 25-23 victory.

In the fourth frame, UMES jumped out to a 7-1 advantage and later extended its lead to 12-4.  NJIT inched their way back into the set and knotted the set for the first time at 24-24 after a kill by Busler.  NJIT used a 3-1 run to close out the set, 27-25, forcing a fifth and deciding set.

NJIT will wrap up the Terrier Invitational Saturday against host St. Francis Brooklyn at 9am and UMass Lowell at 2pm.