NEWARK, N.J. – The Hampton University volleyball team swept New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) on Friday evening at Fleischer Athletic Center, taking a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-23) win for their fifth straight victory.
 
The Lady Pirates (15-9) have won nine of their last 10 matches.
 
Head coach Karen Weatherington is now three wins shy of 100 for her career.
 
"Tonight we faced a very fiery NJIT team," Weatherington said. "It wasn't one of our greatest outings, but we know how to finish and we know how to win."
 
Senior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) led the Lady Pirates with 20 kills, hitting .419 for the match. Senior outside hitters Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) and Sonja Maksimovic (Belgrade, Serbia) had nine and seven kills each, respectively.
 
Junior libero Allysa Medina (Menifee, Calif.) had a team-high 11 digs on defense, while senior setter Kitija Megne (Kuldiga, Latvia) recorded a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs.
 
"Kitija played steady today when running the offense and Raya O'Neal stepped in and did a great job as well," Weatherington said. "Vendy was incredible tonight; she continues to lead us with consistent play and court leadership. Sonja, Kris, Marija have raised their level of play to a point they mentally enjoy facing any challenge."
 
The Lady Pirates hit .230 (44 kills, 18 errors in 113 attacks) for the match, and both teams had five service aces. NJIT hit .232 for the match, with 35 kills and 12 errors in 99 attempts. The Highlanders also held a 7.0-5.0 edge in blocks.
 
A kill from Strakova early in the first set tied the score at 12-12, before NJIT (8-20) took a 13-12 lead. Hampton responded with a 6-2 run to take an 18-15 lead on a kill from Megne. NJIT then scored four straight to take a 19-18 lead.
 
The Lady Pirates closed the set on a 7-3 run, taking the first set 25-22 after a kill from Maksimovic.
 
NJIT led 7-4 early in the second set, before the Lady Pirates went on a 5-1 run to take a 9-8 lead. NJIT scored the next three points, leading 11-9, and the Highlanders later held a 15-13 lead. Hampton scored the next seven points, taking a 20-15 lead after an NJIT error.
 
NJIT scored four of the next five points, closing the gap to 21-19, before the Lady Pirates scored four straight points to close out the set. A kill from Maksimovic, and back-to-back kills from Strakova, gave Hampton the 25-19 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
A kill from redshirt freshman middle blocker Kennedy Kenney (Milpitas, Calif.) gave the Lady Pirates a 7-5 lead in the third set. Later in the set, Megne recorded a kill to give the Lady Pirates a 15-13 lead, before NJIT scored four straight to take a 17-15 lead.
 
Hampton answered with an 8-2 run, taking a 23-19 lead on an ace from Maksimovic. NJIT scored the next three points, cutting the lead to 23-22 before a kill from Strakova forced match point.
 
NJIT scored the next point, cutting the lead to 24-23, before Kenney and Strakova paired on a block to clinch the set and the match.
 
The Lady Pirates hit a team-best .279 (16 kills, four errors in 43 attacks) in the third set.
 
"This week has been a good test for us heading into Howard," Weatherington said. "The teams we've faced presented a variety of offensive and defensive systems that give us a chance to work on some new things and insert new players in the lineup.
 
"I certainly am so proud of this team and the way they have come together. I look forward to the home stretch in November and the challenge of the remaining MEAC season."
 
The Lady Pirates resume MEAC play on Sunday, when they take on Howard in Burr Gymnasium at 3 p.m. For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.