Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – For the second-straight season, Saint Peter's and NJIT split the season series with each team winning on its home floor after the Highlanders downed the Peacocks 3-0 in non-conference women's volleyball action on Wednesday. The Highlanders won in straight sets by the scorers of 25-18, 25-17 and 25-22.
Lauren Behrens (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) paced Saint Peter's (3-14) with her ninth kills-digs double-double after posting 10 kills and 11 digs on Wednesday night.
Greta Varvell (San Jose, Calif./Branham) also registered 11 digs while Kaitlyn Sitton (Brush Praire, Wash./Praire) dished out 19 assists in the loss.
Nina Vukotic powered NJIT with 23 kills and nine digs while Emily Krachenfels registered 33 assists.
After the Peacocks rallied for a five-set victory at the Yanitelli Center on Sept. 30, NJIT won in straight sets on their home court in Newark.
In the first set with the Highlanders holding a 10-8 edge, NJIT used a 13-4 run to take a 23-12 advantage. Saint Peter's closed the set on a 6-2 run, but the Highlanders came away with a 25-18 first-set win.
The second set was tied at 9 before NJIT scored three straight points and seven of the next eight to take a 16-10 margin. Saint Peter's could get no closer than five points the rest of the set and the Highlanders came away with a 25-17 win to take a two sets to love lead.
The Peacocks took a 6-4, 8-7, 9-8 and 14-12 edges in the third set, but after a kill by Marlena Budna (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) to put Saint Peter's ahead by two points NJIT rolled off eight of the next 10 points to take a 22-16. With the Highlanders holding a 23-18 margin, the Peacocks made a late charge with a 4-1 run to trim the deficit to 23-22, but NJIT won the next two points to win the set 25-22 and clinch the match.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Saturday at home against Canisius. Match time is 3:30 p.m.
