NEWARK, N.J. --- For the first time in program history, the NJIT women's tennis team has opened a season with five straight victories.

The Highlanders defeated the visiting Fordham Rams, 4-3, on Friday evening at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreation Facility to moved their unblemished record to 5-0.

NJIT's No. 1 and No. 2 doubles lineups secured a 1-0 lead for the Highlanders. Senior Rafaella Sampaio and freshman Mouna Bouzgarrou finished first with a convincing 6-1 win in the second slot. After the freshmen duo of Adara Omar and Shamika Dhar conceded No. 3, 6-4, sophomore Holly Matson and freshman Joleta Budiman clinched the point for NJIT by winning the first match with a 6-4 score of their own.

Bouzgarrou's 6-2, 7-6 win at No. 2 singles put the Highlanders up 2-0 but Fordham quickly rallied to tie the match at 2-2 with victories at No. 3 and No.1 and led 3-2 after taking the fourth singles match.

Trailing for the first time all season, NJIT relied on upperclassman experience down the stretch. Sampaio evened the match at 3-3 after a straight set win at No. 6 (7-6, 7-5) and junior Mayar Eltony battled back from a first set loss to win in three sets (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) and keep the Highlanders' season-opening streak alive.

"This is such a great win for the program," head coach Zaki Abdelrahman said of the victory. "This group of players are so special and they work hard every single day. They battled for five hours and left everything out on the court. I believe their fighting spirit is definitely a decisive factor in how they play. I am so proud of them and of what they have accomplished. They deserve all the best."

NJIT will return to action next Friday, February 15 at home against Stony Brook. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.  

NJIT 4, Fordham 3

Singles competition
1. Arina Taluyenko (FOR) def. Joleta Budiman (NJIT) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
2. Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) def. Tatiana Grigoryan (FOR) 6-2, 7-6
3. Maia Balce (FOR) def. Holly Matson (NJIT) 6-3, 7-5
4. Genevieve Quenville (FOR) def. Shamika Dhar (NJIT) 7-5, 7-3
5. Mayar Eltony (NJIT) def. Nicole Li (FOR) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Rafaella Sampaio (NJIT) def. Gianna Insogna (FOR) 7-6, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Joleta Budiman/Holly Matson (NJIT) def. Arina Taluyenko/Tatiana Grigoryan (FOR) 6-4
2. Rafaella Sampaio/Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) def. Maia Balce/Gianna Insogna (FOR) 6-1
3. Genevieve Quenville/Nicole Li (FOR) def. Adara Omar/Shamika Dhar (NJIT) 6-4

Match Notes
Fordham 1-3
NJIT 5-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,3,1,4,6,5)