NEWARK, NJ — The NJIT women's volleyball team battled Seton Hall through five sets Thursday night inside the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness & Events Center to open play of the NJIT Invitational.
NJIT took an early lead after Seton Hall claimed the opening set, 25-21. The Highlanders responded in the second set, hitting .262 and recording 16 kills to even the match with a 25-19 victory.
The Highlanders carried that momentum into the third set, using another strong offensive performance to take a 2-1 lead. NJIT recorded 15 kills while hitting .256, holding off the Pirates, 25-21.
Seton Hall answered in the fourth set, taking a 25-22 decision to force a deciding fifth frame. The Highlanders continued to battle in the final set, but the Pirates closed out the match, 15-11.
Junior Ema Torres paced the Highlanders with 19 kills and added one assist, finishing with 19.0 points. Freshman Joaneliz Maisonet also recorded a 17 kills while hitting .400, adding a service ace, a solo block and 17 digs.
Freshman Tereza Motalova contributed 11 kills on 24 attacks for a .375 hitting percentage and added two solo blocks and two block assists. Sophomore Martina Gonzalo Cortes posted nine kills, while sophomore Giselle Parker recorded eight kills while hitting .400.
Junior Cece Marino finished with 35 assists and 17 digs, while junior Finley McAndrew added 24 assists and nine digs.
Defensively, sophomore Ela Akay led the Highlanders with 21 digs, while senior Sara Siefert added 13.
Up Next
The Highlanders host New Haven on Friday, the 18th for game two of the NJIT Invitational with first serve scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
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Keep up with the NJIT women's volleyball team all season long by following on X/Twitter and Instagram (@NJITWVB).
