March 8, 2006

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, CT - The New Jersey Institute of Technology men's volleyball team extended its winning streak to six straight matches, taking a 3-1 decision Wednesday night at Sacred Heart.

All six wins in the streak have come in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Hay Division, as the Highlanders upped their league record to 6-3 and their overall mark to 10-5 with the victory at Sacred Heart.

The Highlanders took the first two games, 30-18 and 30-27, before Sacred Heart claimed a 30-27 win in game three, snapping NJIT's 17-game winning streak over a span of five-plus matches. NJIT regrouped and closed out the match with the Pioneers, 30-23.

Leonardo Paludo led the Highlanders' attack with 18 kills, while Amobi Armstrong and Pawel Pregowski notched 10 kills apiece. Greg Wagner was NJIT's most efficient attacker, registering kills on all seven of his attempts for a rare 1.000 attack percentage in the match.

Rodrigo Correa and Mike Nonnenmann, sharing the setting duties, produced 26 and 24 assists, respectively. On defense, Paludo paced the Highlanders in digs (12) and he shared the blocking lead with Brian Como, as each man recorded 5 total blocks.

For Sacred Heart, John Breen had 16 kills, Dan Duvall had 49 assists and Brent Monden had 12 digs.

NJIT, which has three EIVA Hay Division matches remaining, will play its next three matches outside the conference on a West Coast tour. The Spring Break trip will take the Highlanders to California, where they will open on Saturday at California Baptist, the two-time defending NAIA national champion. On Monday, NJIT will take on Newman of Kansas at California Baptist and then the Highlanders will visit another NAIA national power, Hope International, on Wednesday in Fullerton, CA.