NEWARK, NJ – Visiting New Hampshire swept NJIT, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-18), Sunday afternoon in America East Conference women's volleyball action at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
NJIT's strongest push came in the second set, when the Highlanders won five of six rallies to turn a 9-9 tie into a 14-10 advantage before New Hampshire rallied to take the set, 25-23.
Aries Fontaine led the Highlanders with 10 kills and four blocks, while Cece Marino recorded a team-high 20 assists and 12 digs. Sara Siefert also finished with 12 digs, while Joaneliz Maisonet contributed eight kills, nine digs and a service ace. Middle blocker Tereza Motalova added six kills and four blocks.
New Hampshire jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening set and extended its advantage to 6-1. NJIT responded with back-to-back kills from Maisonet and a block by Maria Kurnatowska and Fontaine to pull within 6-4. The Highlanders remained within striking distance through the middle stages before New Hampshire used a four-point run to build a 23-14 lead. NJIT answered with four consecutive points, highlighted by a Kayden Campbell kill, to fight off set point, but Evelyn Brenton closed out the frame for the Wildcats, 25-20.
The Highlanders came out strong in the second set, building a 6-2 advantage behind kills from Motalova, Maisonet and Martina Gonzalo Cortes. New Hampshire responded with four straight points, including three Rachel Grier kills and an Emma Converse service ace, to even the score at 6-6. After the Wildcats moved ahead 10-9, a block by Gonzalo Cortes and Motalova tied the set. Marino then sparked a four-point NJIT run from the service line, featuring three Motalova kills and a New Hampshire attack error, to give the Highlanders a 14-10 lead.
New Hampshire gradually worked its way back, closing within 16-15, but NJIT answered to regain a 19-15 advantage and later led 20-17 following a Gonzalo Cortes kill. The Wildcats responded with five consecutive points to take a 22-20 lead and eventually reached set point at 24-21. Fontaine's kill helped NJIT pull within one at 24-23, but a final Highlanders attack error ended the set in New Hampshire's favor, 25-23.
The third set was competitive early, with Fontaine, Maisonet and Gonzalo Cortes providing kills for NJIT before New Hampshire created separation with an 8-4 lead. A Fontaine kill brought the Highlanders within 15-10, but the Wildcats continued to build momentum with a pair of kills and a block before Katie Smith's service ace extended the margin to 22-11.
New Hampshire reached match point at 24-13, but NJIT refused to go quietly. Gonzalo Cortes delivered a kill, and Marino helped fuel a four-point run from the service line, featuring a Campbell kill and a block by Campbell and Motalova, as the Highlanders trimmed the deficit to 24-18. New Hampshire ultimately sealed the sweep with an Evelyn Jurden kill, taking the third set, 25-18.
Up Next
NJIT has two regular-season matches remaining and returns to the road Saturday, November 8, for an America East matchup at Binghamton. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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