STORRS, CT--The NJIT women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on Saturday against host UConn (3-0) and Bryant (3-0) to conclude the 2021 Dog Pound Challenge hosted by UConn at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
In the first match of the day, UConn defeated NJIT in straight sets -- 25-13, 25-14 and 25-17.
The Highlanders were led by Cami Augustine's match-best nine kills followed by Adriana Goetz-Morales with five kills. Middle Courtney Branch hit an impressive .667 with four kills on six attempts.
Setter Juliana Impaglia piled up a match-high 22 assists while leading the Highlanders defensively with six digs. Augustine and Kaitlyn Arias each combined for five kills.
In front of the net, Katelyn Bliesner led NJIT with three block assists while three different Highlanders -- Udo Nwosu, Branch and Augustine added two blocks assists each.
NJIT dropped a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-18) decision in the second match against Bryant led by Elley Torres with six kills and a team-best nine digs. Impaglia posted 19 assists and six digs.
The Highlanders held a 10-to-3 team block advantage paced by Ines Varela and Branch, who each recorded five total blocks -- Varela (five block assists) and Branch (four block assists and one block solo).
Courtney Branch was selected to the 2021 Dog Pound Challenge All-Tournament team.
Dog Pound Challenge MVP
Allie Garland, UConn
Dog Pound Challenge All-Tournament Team
Emma McGovern, Bryant
Courtney Branch, NJIT
Jasmine Davis, UConn
Allie Garland, UConn
McKayla Wuensch, UConn
Carley Diehl, Yale
Tiffany Pedersen-Henry, Yale
NJIT will return home for two straight matches inside NJIT's Wellness Events Center on Tuesday, September 21, welcome nearby Seton Hall at 5pm and will open America East Conference action on Friday, September 24, hosting Binghamton at 6pm.
