NJIT Women's Volleyball Splits Saturday Matches to Finish Weekend 2-1

Published: Sunday, September 11, 2022
Highlanders Defeat Saint Peter's in Straight Sets for Second Win in as Many Days

The NJIT women's volleyball team won its second match in as many days on Saturday, defeating Saint Peter's in straight sets after suffering a four-set loss to host Providence earlier in the afternoon at Alumni Hall.

The victory over the Peacocks was the Highlanders' second in as many days and third of the season after finishing the 2021 campaign with two wins.

Providence opened the first match of the day with two decisive set wins before the Highlanders controlled the third set, winning 25-18 to extend the match. The Friars were able to hold off NJIT with a 25-21 fourth-set victory to clinch the match. 

Against Saint Peter's it was all NJIT as the Highlanders dominated the opening set 25-14, before sinning the second and third sets 25-21 and 25-22, respectively, to sweep the Peacocks for the second time this season.

Elley Torres led the way for NJIT on Saturday, recording a season-high 14 kills in each of the two matches. The junior finished the first match of the day with a .345 hitting percentage and followed it up with an almost identical .346 hitting percentage in the win over Saint Peter's. The 14-kill performances were one shy of her career-high, which she set as a freshman against UMBC.

Adriana Goetz-Morales and Ines Varela added eight and seven kills, respectively, against the Friars. In the second match of the day, Goetz-Morales, Courtney Branch, and Cami Augustine all posted seven kills to add to the NJIT offense.

Doga Emil served as the libero in both matches, finishing with 22 digs vs. Providence and 19 more against SPU. Juliana Impaglia and Maddie Dennis shared the setting duties on Saturday, with Impaglia leading the way in each match, dishing out a combined 45 assists over the seven sets. 

The NJIT offense finished with a .228 hitting percentage in Saturday's victory, topping the previous season-high of .202, which was set in Friday's five-set win over Holy Cross.

Torres and Emil were both named to the Friar Classic All-Tournament Team for their efforts in the three matches hosted by Providence this weekend.

The Highlanders will look to continue their winning ways on Tuesday when they head to Brooklyn for a 6 p.m. match at St. Francis.