NEWARK, NJ – NJIT posted the final four points of the match to avoid a fifth game and notch a 3-1 EIVA win over Rutgers-Newark in The Golden Dome Arena. Game scores were 23-25, 25-11, 25-18, 25-23.
BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Highlanders (5-5, EIVA 1-2) trailed 23-21 in the fourth set before senior right side Adam Gustafson hammered down a kill ahead of three straight blocks keyed by junior outside hitter Kevin Van Oss. Van Oss had solo block to tie the score at 23-23 before teaming with first freshman outside hitter TJ Jurko and then junior setter Matthew Lui to end the night.
Gustafson had five of his team high 14 kills in the fourth frame. Hit a sizzling .565 (14 kills, one error, 23 attacks) while adding a match-high five aces and a solo block to pile up 20.0 points. Jurko added 11 kills while Lui recorded 33 assists and got in on six of the Highlanders' 13 blocks. NJIT hit a crisp .319 (44-14-94) behind his setting.
Senior right side
Austin Pappas had five of his match-high 16 kills in the first game was the Raiders (4-4, EIVA 1-3) edged into early control. Pappas tallied a match-high 20.5 points by adding three of the Rutgers-Newark's four aces and three assisted blocks.
Senior outside hitter
Marcin Midura had four of his 12 kills and senior middle hitter
Grant Metheny posted four of his 11 kills in the first set for the Raiders. Freshman setter
Manuel Felipez distributed 41 assists and dumped in three kills in as many tries for the Raiders. Senior libero
Zack Chambers came up with a match-high nine digs while junior middle hitter
Brett Pickens added six kills, a solo block and a pair of assisted blocks.
In the second set, NJIT delivered four of their nine aces and hit a blistering .524 (13-2-21) to level the match. Gustafson had five kills in the third game as the Highlanders took control of the match.
It was NJIT's second win of the season over the Raiders with the first a 3-0 non-conference victory in The Golden Dome Invitational in January.
Rutgers-Newark hosts Princeton in an EIVA match on Friday at 7 p.m.
