Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – The Saint Peter's women's volleyball team was defeated in four sets on Wednesday night by in-state opponent NJIT.
Dayana Arrufat-Rondon (Trujillo, Puerto Rico/Carvin School) finished with a team-best 15 kills in the contest. Lauren Behrens (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) recorded 11 kills, while Kristina Baehr (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) added 38 assists.
Danica Vukotic paced the Highlanders with 17 kills with Valerie Carroll chipping in with 10 kills in the winning effort.
In the opening set, both teams played even in the early going, exchanging points to tie the set at 15. NJIT (3-2) used a 9-3 run to pull away from the Peacocks and take a 24-18 lead. Saint Peter's (0-2) mounted a comeback, scoring four straight times to cut the deficit, but it was not enough as the Highlanders took the first game, 25-22.
Saint Peter's bounced back in the second game, opening up with a 16-6 advantage, Following a NJIT timeout, the Peacocks continued its offense surge en route to a 25-12 set victory. Amanda Colombo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) tallied four of seven kills in the team's first set win of the season.
In the third set, early errors by the Peacocks allowed NJIT to jump out to a 15-7 lead. After a timeout called by Saint Peter's, the Highlanders continued to take advantage of the errors to win the set, 25-13.
Fourth set, Saint Peter's was able to jump out to a 15-12 lead. NJIT rallied back, going on an 11-3 run to take a 23-18 advantage. The Peacocks answered with three straight scores, but the Highlanders did not relinquish the lead, taking the decisive set, 25-24.
Kayla Howell (Monrovia, Calif./Monrovia) finished with 13 digs for the Peacocks, with Brittany Smith (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township) accounting for five total blocks in the match.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Sept. 5, when the team travels to Towson University to compete in the Towson Invitational. At the tournament, the Peacocks are scheduled to take on Towson (Sept. 5), La Salle (Sept. 6) and Coppin St. (Sept. 6).
