NEWARK, N.J. --- The wins just keep coming for the NJIT women's tennis team.

The Highlanders extended their program-best start to the 2019 season with a 4-3 home victory over the Stony Brook Seawolves Friday evening at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreation Facility.

After winning its first three matches by a combined score of 19-2, NJIT (6-0) displayed its toughness by winning its third straight one-point contest over Stony Brook. 

"Winning another tough match and staying undefeated is certainly a great thing," head coach Zaki Abdelrahman said of the outcome. "I am not happy  with how started the match. We were flat and not aggressive enough to win the doubles point. If we want to have a win on Sunday over Drexel, we have to play stronger and provide better tennis." 

The early struggles Abdelrahman referenced was the Highlanders' performance in doubles. NJIT lost its matches at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots to concede a doubles point for the first time this spring.

That opening bit of adversity served as a wakeup call for the Highlanders when singles came around. The first three matches to finish - junior Mayar Eltony at No. 4, freshman Mouna Bouzgarrou at No. 2, and freshman Joleta Budiman at No. 1 - pushed NJIT from a 0-1 deficit into a 3-1 advantage. 

Stony Brook closed pulled within one (3-2) after winning the third flight but senior Rafaella Sampaio sealed the win with a straight-set triumph.

NJIT will return to action at home on Sunday, February 17 as Drexel comes to Newark. First serve is slated for 3 p.m.

NJIT 4, Stony Brook 3

Singles competition
1. Joleta Budiman (NJIT) def. Jamie Wei (SBU) 7-6, 6-1
2. Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) def. Maria Pinto Ribeiro (SBU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Nolwenn Cardoso (SBU) def. Holly Matson (NJIT) 6-4, 6-4
4. Mayar Eltony (NJIT) def. Sasha Bekirova (SBU) 6-1, 6-3
5. A. Carrion-Rodriguez (SBU) def. Adara Omar (NJIT) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
6. Rafaella Sampaio (NJIT) def. Elizabeth Pam (SBU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Jamie Wei/Nolwenn Cardoso (SBU) def. Joleta Budiman/Holly Matson (NJIT) 6-0
2. Rafaella Sampaio/Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) vs. Maria Pinto Ribeiro/Sasha Bekirova (SBU) 6-6, unfinished
3. A. Carrion-Rodriguez/Elizabeth Pam (SBU) def. Amanda Helminsky/Shamika Dhar (NJIT) 6-4

Match Notes
Stony Brook 1-1
NJIT 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,1,3,6,5)