NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT women's volleyball team earned its first America East Conference victory of the season on Sunday, defeating visiting UAlbany in straight sets at the Wellness and Events Center.

The Highlanders are now 1-1 in America East action. Sunday's match was UAlbany's first conference tilt of the season. 

NJIT got off to great starts in each of the first two sets, but the Great Danes made things interesting before the Highlanders held them off with wins of 25-21 and 25-22, respectively.

The third set was back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than two until UAlbany scored two-straight points to go ahead 21-18. The Highlanders were able to battle back with four-straight points to take the lead and then broke a 23-23 tie with a kill from Adriana Goetz-Morales and then forced a Great Dane attack error to clinch the victory, the squad's seventh of the season.

Goetz-Morales led all players with 11 kills, while teammates Elley Torres and Sara Siefert each chipped in with 11. 

NJIT held UAlbany to a .103 hitting percentage in the match as Rowan Schreiber led the defensive efforts at the net with five blocks (two solo). Doga Emil paced the Highlanders with 16 digs in Sunday's win. 

Juliana Impaglia had a team-high 19 assists, while Maddie Dennis finished with 12. 

NJIT returns to action next Sunday for its first America East Conference road match of the season. The Highlanders will take on New Hampshire at 1pm in Durham, NH.