WEST POINT, N.Y. --- The NJIT women's tennis team improved to 8-1 on the season after a 5-2 victory over the Army West Point Black Knights Sunday evening at the Lichtenberg Tennis Center.

Despite falling behind a flight after Army won the No. 3 doubles match, NJIT took a 1-0 lead after freshman Joleta Budiman & sophomore Holly Matson won at No. 1 (6-2) and freshman Mouna Bouzgarrou & senior Rafaella Sampaio clinched at No. 2 (6-3).

NJIT showed its resolve in singles, battling out four three-set wins over the course of the six matches. Bouzgarrou gave the Highlanders a 2-0 advantage after winning her No. 2 singles matchup. Army trimmed the lead in half with a triumph at No. 6 but the next two matches to finish - and the match - went to sophomore Advaita Saravanan (No. 3) and Budiman (No. 1) and junior Mayar Eltony wrapped up NJIT's winning at No 4.

"The team was fantastic today and earned a huge road win against a very strong Army team," head coach Zaki Abdelrahman said post-match. "Today we played our best tennis so far, we were very strong in both doubles and singles. I am so proud of the players for their hard work and fighting spirit. They deserve all the success they have been having so far."

NJIT 5, Army West Point 2

Singles competition
1. Joleta Budiman (NJIT) def. Ana Joyner (ARMY) 7-5, 5-7, 6-2
2. Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) def. Genevieve McCormick (ARMY) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
3. Advaita Saravanan (NJIT) def. Paola Bou (ARMY) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
4. Mayar Eltony (NJIT) def. Sam DiMaio (ARMY) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (0-5)
5. Hannah Boubel (ARMY) def. Adara Omar (NJIT) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
6. MaryJo Pidgeon (ARMY) def. Amanda Helminsky (NJIT) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Joleta Budiman/Holly Matson (NJIT) def. Ana Joyner/Sam DiMaio (ARMY) 6-2
2. Mouna Bouzgarrou/Rafaella Sampaio (NJIT) def. Genevieve McCormick/Paola Bou (ARMY) 6-3
3. Hannah Boubel/Sasha Inchauste (ARMY) def. Amanda Helminsky/Advaita Saravanan (NJIT) 6-2

Match Notes
NJIT 8-1
Army West Point 9-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,6,3,1,4,5)