Post Game Interview & Game Highlights

NEWARK, NJ—NJIT senior Tess Albyn led the match with 14 kills leading the Highlanders to a 3-1 win over visiting North Florida in ASUN Conference women's volleyball action Friday night at the Fleisher Athletic Center.

NJIT, winners of its last seven-out-of-eight matches, improves to 9-8 overall, 1-1 in the ASUN while the visiting Ospreys drop to 7-10 overall, 0-2 in the ASUN.

The Highlanders notch its first ASUN Conference win of the 2017 season, taking the first two frames, 25-15 and 25-19 for a 2-0 lead.  The visiting Ospreys rallied back to take the third set, 25-22.  NJIT cruised to a 25-17 victory in the fourth set to earn the 3-1 win.

Albyn finished the match with a .444 hitting percentage on 14 kills, two errors on 27 attempts.  Madi Busler followed with 10 kills while Iva Mandic added nine kills on 14 swings for a .429 hitting percentage.

Setter Liz Benson piled up 30 assists, seven digs and four block assists while libero Adriana Nieto shared match-high honors with 12 digs followed by Alahna Diaz with nine digs.

Diaz led the match with three service aces while Olivia Welsch recorded two aces as the Highlanders held a slight 8-5 edge in that category.

Senior middle Adrianne Bynoe put together a strong performance in front of the net for the Highlanders, combining for seven total blocks (one solo, six assists).  Bynoe added six kills with one error on 14 swings, finishing the match with a .357 hitting percentage.

North Florida had two players reach double-digit kills led by Katarina Kaicevic with 13 kills followed by Taryn Griffey with 10.

Carinne Turner paced the Ospreys with 27 assists while Ashley Laborde led the way with 12 digs.  Alana Shoff combined for four blocks (one solo, three assists).

In the first set, the Highlanders combined for a .407 hitting percentage, combining for 14 kills on 27 swings with just three errors.  Albyn led the frame with four kills followed by Mandic with three.

NJIT took control early, jumping out to a 12-7 lead and later pushing its lead to 18-11.  The Highlanders went on to win 25-15 to take the first set.

The second set saw seven ties and three lead changes.  NJIT held a 14-10 lead but the Ospreys rallied back to pull within two the Highlanders, 16-18, resulting in an NJIT timeout.

NJIT used a 4-1 spurt to push ahead 22-17 and scored the final two points of the set for a 25-19 victory.

In the third set, which was also played tight, saw its final tie in the early 20's, 22-22 after a block solo by Bynoe.  North Florida closed out the set on a 3-0 spurt to earn the 25-22 win, forcing a fourth set.

NJIT jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the fourth set.  North Florida battled back scored six consecutive points for a one-point lead, 11-10.  NJIT used a 7-1 spurt pushing ahead, 17-12 and never looked back to earn the 25-17 win.

The Highlanders will have a quick turnaround and host Jacksonville on Sunday at 12Noon.