NEWARK, NJ-- The NJIT women's volleyball team opens up its 2021 season on Tuesday when it hosts Saint Peter's at the WEC.

Match Day Information
Game time is slated for 6pm on August 31.  The match will be streamed live on America East TV with in-game statistics available on www.NJITHighlanders.com . 

All-Time Series
Tuesday will mark the 17th all-time meeting between the two programs with NJIT leading the series, 13-3. The Highlanders have never lost tot he Peacocks (6-0) in Newark and have won seven of the last eight matchups.

In the last meeting on August 25, 2018, SPU defeated NJIT in five sets. 

Back to "New Normal"
After playing the 2020 campaign - its first season as a member of the America East Conference (joined the league on July 1, 2020 as the 10th full member institution) - during Spring 2021 and without fans, NJIT will have the chance to play a standard fall schedule in 2021 with fans back in attendance.

NJIT's 2021 schedule features a 27-match regular season slate, including nine matches in the Wellness and Events Center and 12 America East Conference matches, with the Highlanders playing each of the other six AE teams once at home, and once on the road.

2021 Spectator Policy
Fans will be permitted at NJIT women's volleyball games this fall (subject to change), but they must adhere to NJIT's fall spectator policy which mandates all fans wear a masks, regardless of vaccination status.

Who's Back?
NJIT returns the majority of its team from the 2021 spring season. Kyla Lannert was named the squad's Team MVP last season following a breakout rookie campaign where she started all 12 matches as the team's primary setter, dishing out a team-high 6.74 a/s and collecting a team-best 3.09 d/s. Offensively, Elley Torres paced the Highlanders with 99 kills (2.48 k/s), while Courtney Branch led the way defensively at the net with 34 blocks.

The New Crew
Third-year Head Coach Pedro Trevino brought in five freshmen this season. "I am so excited to have these young women join our program," said Trevino.."All of them have played at a high level and will bring a lot of experience and charisma to the NJIT women's volleyball family. 
Making their NJIT debuts this season will be:
- Kelle Anwander (Toms River, NJ)
- Cami Augustine (Belleville, IL)
- Asher Vallone (Laredo, TX)
- Ines Varela (Lisbon, Portugal)
- Campbell Walker (Alexandria, VA)

More info on the freshmen class can be found here.

The Captain
Prior to Tuesday's season opener, Trevino announced that senior Udo Nwosu will serve as the team's captain this season.

Scouting the Peacocks
Saint Peter's opened up its 2021 slate last weekend, dropping all three matches at the Delaware State Hornet Invite. The Peacocks lost to Delaware St. and Bucknell in straight sets and were defeated by St. Francis (NY) in four sets. Alanis Alvarado was the team's top performer with 24 kills on the weekend. 

Up Next
The Highlanders return to action on Friday when they open play at the Delaware Invitational against the host Blue Hens at 12pm in Newark, DE. NJIT will play two more matches on Saturday, first against Maryland Eastern Shore at 11am, before wrapping up action in Delaware against Fordham at 2pm.