SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking loss to NJIT on Sunday to close out the Seton Hall Classic, seeing its comeback attempt fall just short in the five-set thriller. 

First year setter Miliani Villarreal had one of best matches by a SHU libero in program history, tallying 34 digs, which is a new five-set program record. The only other Pioneer to record more digs was Jessica Colberg, who had 36 in three sets against Central Connecticut State. Villarreal's 34 digs are tied for the second most in DI this season. 

Three Pioneers finished today's contest with a double-double. Camryn Luginbuhl posted her second straight double-double on 19 kills and 15 digs, as she has 994 kills in her career. Allison Murray recorded 16 kills and 16 digs, while Gaby Zovko was one kill shy of a triple-double with 40 assists, 14 digs and nine kills. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 3-3
NJIT: 2-6
 
Top Performers:
Camryn Luginbuhl: 19 kills, 15 digs, 2 blocks
Gaby Zovko: 40 assists, 14 digs, 9 kills, 2 blocks
Miliani Villarreal: 34 digs, 6 assists
Allison Murray: 16 kills, 16 digs
 
How It Happened:
After the Highlanders took the opening set 25-19, SHU bounced back with a 25-20 win in the second. The two teams traded runs early on until the score was tied at 13-all. Murray helped spark a 6-1 run by the Pios with a pair of kills to give SHU a 19-15 advantage. The Highlanders rallied to cut the deficit to two, 22-20, but Sacred Heart scored the final three points of the frame to clinch the victory. 

NJIT stormed out to a 15-7 lead at the start of the third before SHU fought back to cut the margin to one, 20-19. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, a 5-2 Highlanders' run propelled them to a 25-21 win. 

Things looked dire for the Pios, as a close start to the fourth swung quickly to NJIT with an extended 15-4 surge. Sacred Heart did not go down without a fight, winning the next eight points to even the score at 24-all. Zovko and Luginbuhl each tallied two kills during the Pios' miraculous run. The teams then traded points before SHU iced the comeback victory with a 3-0 surge to end the set. 

In its second straight five-set match, its third already this season, Sacred Heart was up 8-6 before the teams switched sides. SHU sat three points from victory at 12-9 before the Highlanders rallied. A 4-0 run game NJIT the lead, which it held for the remainder of the set, taking the fifth by a 15-13 final score. 

Up Next:
SHU begins a tournament at Army on Friday, Sept. 13, with a 3 p.m. bout against Bryant.