NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT women's volleyball team suffered a tough defeat in its final home match of the season on Sunday, falling in five sets to visiting Bryant at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
The Highlanders went ahead with a 25-20 first set win, but Bryant quickly tied the match 1-1 with a 25-18 victory in the second.
NJIT once again went in front in the match as it took the third set 27-25 and the Bulldogs once again answered, this time 25-17, to set up a winner takes all fifth set.
The teams traded the lead several times in the fifth set and went well past the 15-point mark as the Bulldogs outlasted the Highlanders 22-20 to earn the victory.
Adriana Goetz-Morales and
Juliana Impaglia put up impressive numbers in the final home matches of their respective five-year careers in Newark. Goetz-Morales sent down 20 kills, while Impaglia dished out 41 assists.
Goetz-Morales also finished with 19 digs to complete the double-double, while
Doga Emil and
Kaitlyn Arias each recorded 17. Impaglia also had a double-double as she finished with 15 digs to go along with her 41 assists.
Prior to the match, the NJIT Department of Athletics honored seniors
Elley Torres and
Kaitlyn Arias, who were also playing in their final match at the WEC.
The Highlanders close out their 2023 season on Friday when they travel to UMBC. First serve is set for 6pm in Baltimore.
