BROOKLYN- The NJIT women's volleyball team was defeated by Maryland-Eastern Shore in four sets (25-23, 24-26, 25-8, 25-15) and Central Michigan in straight sets (25-12, 25-20, 25-20) in a pair of neutral-site matches at the Terrier Classic, hosted by St. Francis College on Saturday, August 31.

NJIT dropped to 0-3 on the season, while UMES saw its record improve to 2-1 and CMU now boasts an undefeated record through three matches this season..

VS. UMES:

The first set was tight, with neither squad leading by more than two until the Hawks took a 20-17 advantage. NJIT was able to get within one, 24-23, but UMES was able to get a kill to clinch the set and take a 1-0 lead.

The Hawks took the momentum into the second set, scoring seven of the first eight points to take a 7-1 lead before NJIT head coach Pedro Trevino called a timeout. The Highlanders rallied after the time out, scoring nine of the next 10 to go ahead 10-8. The NJIT lead blossomed to as many as five before a late Hawks' rally put them back in front 24-23. The Highlanders tied the frame on a kill from freshman Sarah Merritt, before two-straight kills from another freshman, Adriana Goetz-Morales gave NJIT the set victory and tied the match 1-1.

Sets three and four were dominated by UMES as the Hawks raced out to early leads and never looked back in both sets.

Merritt was NJIT's offensive leader, tallying 13 kills. Freshman Courtney Branch attacked extremely efficiently with six kills on just nine attacks to finish the match with a .667 attacking percentage.

Senior Liz Benson collected 25 assists to lead the Highlanders for the second-straight match, while senior Olivia Welsch's 11 digs were also a team-high.

VS. CMU:

Central Michigan set the tone early, scoring the first six points of the match and increased its lead to as many as 15 before ultumately taking the set 25-12.

The second set was much closer as NJIT trailed by just one, 15-14, midway through the frame. CMU scored the next three points to take control of the set and held on for the 25-20 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.

CMU scored six of the first seven points in the third set, but the Highlanders rallied to cut the deficit to one, 12-11, but were unable to tie the score. The score remained close until the Chippewas scored three straight to turn a 20-18 lead into a five-point advantage en route to the 25-19 match-clinching win. 

Goetz-Morales' six kills paced NJIT, which was also in blocks by Branch (three), assists by Benson (21), and digs by Welsch (14).

UP NEXT:

The Highlanders return to Newark for their home opener on Tuesday when they host St. John's University. First serve is scheduled for 7pm at the Wellness and Events Center.