FAIRFIELD, CT - The NJIT women's volleyball team was defeated by host Sacred Heart in straight sets (25-22, 25-17, 26-24) on Friday, September 13.

The Pioneers saw their record improve to 3-4 on the season with the victory, while NJIT is now 1-8.

In the opening set, the hosts led by as many as three points on several occasions, but the Highlanders were able to tie it up at 20-20. SHU answered with the next three points, however, en route to the 25-22 victory.

Sacred Heart kept the momentum going into the second set, scoring the first two points before racing out to a 13-3 advantage. NJIT was able to cut its deficit to four at 21-17, but the Pioneers once again answered, this time scoring four straight to take the frame 25-17.

The Highlanders found themselves down as many as five early in the third set, but battled back with five-straight points midway through the game to take a 18-16 lead. After a Pioneer rally that put the hosts back in front, 23-22, NJIT scored the next two points to set up a game-point scenerio. Sacred Heart fought off the set point with three-straight points of its own to take the final set 26-24 and the match 3-0.

Three freshmen - Sarah Merritt (eight kills), Susan Blake (seven kills) and Courtney Branch (five kills) - led the Highlanders offensively. Blake's seven kills came against just one error in 14 attempts for an impressive .429 attacking percentage. 

Branch (six blocks) and Merritt (five blocks) also had solid defensive performances at the net as NJIT recorded nine blocks to Sacred Heart's four. 

The Highlanders will be back on the court on Saturday when they take on Fairfield (11am) and Northeastern (4pm) in a pair of matches that will take place on the campus of Fairfield University.