Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Recap






FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Competing during its final regular season tournament, the Northeastern women's volleyball team split its two matches on Saturday at the 2019 Fairfield/Sacred Heart Invitational, bouncing back from a straight-set defeat at Sacred Heart to win a three-set, neutral-site match against NJIT (hosted by Fairfield).

NORTHEASTERN def. NJIT: 26-24, 25-17, 25-13
The Huskies (5-5) closed out the weekend with an easy win over NJIT (1-10) in a match that saw the Highlanders only lead for two total points as the Huskies improved to .500 on the season 10 games in. Northeastern dominated out-killing NJIT 43-20 while also netting seven service aces in the victory. 

The first set finished as a nailbiter as the Huskies eked out the 26-24 victory over the Highlanders. Though NJIT finished with more blocks in the frame than the Huskies (3-2), Northeastern closed things out with a block by Natalie Shollin and Erica Staunton in a frame that was as back-and-forth as you can be.

The second set victory came thanks to a fast 6-1 start to the frame and a couple of 4-0 runs. Brianna Daphnis ended the set with a kill, her fourth in the second set, as the Huskies finished with 15 kills in the win. 

Northeastern closed out the win thanks to a 25-13 third set that saw a 5-0 run on the back of Evelyn Gonzales give the Huskies a 22-12 advantage and the ultimate victory. Northeastern finished the third frame with five services aces en route to the victory.  

SACRED HEART def. NORTHEASTERN: 25-20, 25-22, 25-22
Despite swinging .266 and winning the blocking game, Northeastern (4-5) ran short of artillery against Sacred Heart (3-2), which mastered the 50-41 edge in total kills and collectively hit .322 at the net.
 
Brianna Daphnis and Natalie Shollin did the bulk of the attacking for the Huskies. Daphnis totaled 13 kills on 22 attacks (hit .364) while Shollin landed eight kills on 12 attacks (hit .583), recording a block as well.
 
Nailah Jenkins shined in the middle for Northeastern, pairing five blocks – including a season high, four solo blocks – with five kills. Samantha Shupe notched 24 of the Huskies' 37 assists while Clare Lund dug 15 attacks from the back row.
 
Northeastern established the 7-5 lead during the first set, receiving two early solo blocks from Jenkins. After three mid-set kills by Shollin helped NU stage a five-point run and lead, 15-13, the Pioneers caught fire, swinging seven kills during the set's final 10 points to steal the opener, 25-20.
 
Daphnis connected on five of her 13 kills during the second set, helping the Huskies establish two-point leads at 12-10 and 14-12. After Sacred Heart had gained the 18-17 lead, Northeastern successfully sided out during five consecutive opportunities to pull even at 22-22, but committed two late errors to concede the set, 25-22.
 
Northeastern turned in a 10-3 run to overcome its 6-0 third set deficit. Back-to-back kills by Daphnis and Jenkins tied the set at 15-15, but the Pioneers replied with a four-point run to take their final lead, finishing with 17 third set kills.

Julia Murawinski and Jasmine Rogers led Sacred Heart with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Sarah Ciszek charted 37 assists, eight kills and seven digs while Emma Smallcomb recorded 21 digs.