Women's Volleyball Hold Off Pioneers in Five Set Battle

The NJIT women's volleyball team showed tremendous resolve in the finale of the Seton Hall Classic, outlasting Sacred Heart in five sets on Sunday afternoon.
The two teams alternated set victories, with NJIT prevailing in the match, 25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 29-27, 15-13.

In the opening set, two scoring bursts during the early going helped the Highlanders create some cushion. A 4-0 run, highlighted by kills from Aries Fontaine and Ilayda Dincer, gave NJIT an 8-6 advantage. After Sacred Heart earned the net two points, the Highlanders put together five straight points to push back ahead for good.

Sacred Heart leveled the match up with a set two win, but NJIT was able to answer back in the third frame. The Highlanders led by as many as eight points in the set, holding a 17-9 edge and looking at taking command in the match. The Pioneers rallied back to eventually pull within one, 20-19, but NJIT staved off any comeback in the set as kills from Fontaine, Dincer and Ema Torres wrapped up the set.

In set four, NJIT looked poised to wrap up the match, but Sacred Heart rallied back to fend off multiple match points to force a fifth and deciding set. In the fifth, NJIT found itself behind, 12-9, with its back against the wall. A kill from Torres began a four-point scoring surge from the Highlanders to put them back ahead. After a Sacred Heart kill leveled the score back up at 13-13, NJIT closed out the match as kills from Torres and Taylor West solidified the victory.

Fontaine led the Highlanders with 14 kills on the afternoon, while Torres was strong in the attacking games as well with 11 kills and a .345 hitting percentage. Cece Marino and Finley McAndrew each surpassed 20 assists, while Doga Emil tallied 21 digs to lead the team. Emil was named to the Seton Hall Classic All-Tournament Team.

The Highlanders return to action on Tuesday night as they head to Queens to face St. John's at 6 p.m.