Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – Houston Baptist sophomore outside hitter Jasmine Casey had 14 kills to lead four Huskies with double-digit kills and also tied her career-high with 25 digs in a 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21) victory over the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the Great West Conference opener Thursday night at the Fleisher Center.
 
Senior setter Victoria Weatherly also registered a double-double with 52 assists, the fifth 50-plus assist match of her career, to go along with 14 digs and three kills for the Huskies (10-8, 1-0 GWC). Senior outside hitter Heather Leaverton had 13 kills and nine digs, sophomore middle blocker Madeline Gaffney posted 11 kills and four blocks, and sophomore outside hitter Bailey Keith had 10 kills and three blocks. Junior middle blocker Caiti Wenger added nine kills.
 
Camilla Tinari led NJIT (6-10, 0-1) with 16 kills and 10 digs, while Janet Snell also had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Renata Pandolfo led the Highlanders defensively with 31 digs.
 
HBU hit .222 for the match, while holding NJIT to .171. The Highlanders outdug the Huskies, 73-67, while HBU held the advantage in blocks, 6-5, and service aces, 3-2.
 
The Huskies jumped out to a quick lead in the first, scoring five-straight points to go up, 7-2. NJIT wouldn't get closer than four the rest of the way. HBU scored four in a row to get to set point at 24-16, then closed out the set, 25-19. Gaffney led the Huskies with four kills in the set, while Casey had eight digs. Tinari had five kills for the Highlanders.
 
NJIT took the early lead in the first scoring five of the first six points, but HBU fought back and got to within one at 11-10. The Highlanders then scored three-straight points to restore their advantage. NJIT led, 18-12, but HBU scored four in a row to make the score, 18-16. The Higlanders were able to hold on for a 25-21 decision to tie the match at a set apiece. Casey had five kills for the Huskies, while Tinari had seven for the Highlanders.
 
HBU came out of the break and took a 7-3 lead in the third and quickly extended its lead to seven at 15-8. NJIT got to within three at 16-13, but HBU scored five-straight points to go back up by eight at 21-13. The Huskies took the lead in the match with a 25-17 victory. Leaverton led HBU with six kills, while Fran Edmondson led NJIT with four.
 
In the fourth, the Highlanders scored the first point, but the Huskies answered by scoring the next six, three coming on kills by Casey. NJIT stormed back and tied the set, 11-11, and briefly took the lead at 13-12. With the set tied, 14-14, HBU scored four-straight and never relinquished the lead. The Huskies went on to clinch the match with a 25-21 win. Casey had five kills in the set for HBU, while Snell had five for NJIT
 
The Huskies complete the conference road trip against Chicago State Saturday at 2 p.m. in Chicago.