NEWARK, NJ – The NJIT women's volleyball team returns to the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center this weekend for a pair of America East matches. The Highlanders will kick off the weekend against Bryant on Friday night at 6 p.m. before facing New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Weekend Schedule
Friday – vs. Bryant, 6 p.m. (WATCH | LIVE STATS)
Sunday – vs. New Hampshire, 1 p.m. (WATCH | LIVE STATS)
Scouting Bryant (17-6, 3-2)

• Bryant and NJIT met in the America East opener back on Sept. 27, with the Bulldogs sweeping the Highlanders in three sets.
• The Bulldogs have yet to win on the road in conference play thus far, dropping matches at Binghamton (3-1) and UAlbany (3-0).
• Bryant is the lone America East school to have three players rank inside the top-10 in the conference in kills/set: Aubrey Lapour (4^th, 3.40), Arianna Ugolini (5^th, 3.18), Fabi Castro (9^th, 2.42).

Scouting New Hampshire (12-8, 3-2)

• The Wildcats also come to the WEC this weekend with a 3-2 mark in conference play.
• UNH boasts just a 1-5 record away from home this season, with the lone win coming at UAlbany on Sept. 29.
• Kelly Kaufmann leads the America East in blocks/set (1.29) and hitting percentage (.360).
• Defense is the strong suit for New Hampshire, as it leads the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.179) and digs/set (15.04).

News & Notes

• Senior Ines Varela set the NJIT career blocks record last Sunday at Binghamton, picking up her 297^th career block to pass Courtney Branch (2019-22) on the all-time list.
• Varela sits third in the America East with 1.08 blocks per set on the campaign.
• Freshman Cece Marino has established herself as the primary setter for the Highlanders in her first season in Newark. Marino enters the weekend with double-doubles in three of her last four matches.
• Marino's 5.41 assists per set on the season rank her fifth in the America East.
• Ema Torres enters the weekend ranked eighth in the America East with 2.47 kills per set.
• Doga Emil was named the America East Defensive Specialist of the Week on Sept. 16 after averaging a league-best 6.1 digs per set. Emil surpassed 20 digs in a pair of three set matches over the Highlanders' 2-2 week.
• Ema Torres was named America East Rookie of the Week back on Sept. 16. The Gondomar, Portugal native averaged 2.9 kills per set, 1.2 digs per set and hit .333 across the week.
• Doga Emil enters the weekend ranked fifth in the conference in digs per set (3.55).

Follow the Highlanders
Keep up with the NJIT women's volleyball team all season long by following on X/Twitter and Instagram (@NJITWVB).