HUNTINGTON, PA – NJIT came up short on Friday evening as the Highlanders dropped a 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-20) decision at Juniata in an EIVA Hay Division conference match at the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center.

Juniata hit .487 for the match improving to 9-3 overall, 2-0 in the conference while NJIT falls to 2-6 overall, 0-1 in the conference.

The Eagles' Chris Vrooman and Ben Wolff recorded 13 kills apiece, which was a match-high.  Wolff's kills came on 15 swings and finished with a .867 attack percentage, while Vrooman had 23 attempts and one attack error.

Juniata's John Almquist piled up a match-high 42 assists and added five digs and three service aces for the home team.  NJIT's Adam Gustafson added 25 assists and shared team-high honors with Brady Smith with five digs apiece.

NJIT was led by freshman Dhruv Lad with seven kills followed by Kevin Van Oss and Andrei Stoyanow who posted six kills apiece.  Freshman Rafal Kierznowksi added five kills on nine swings, for a team high .556 hitting percentage.

In the first set, the Eagles were down until a kill by Vrooman, which tied the set at 19. The score continued to go back and forth until back-to-back kills by Vrooman and Wolff and an attack error by NJIT clinched the first set 25-22.

The second set remained tight until Juniata went on a five-point run with three kills by Wolff and two service aces by Vrooman to pull ahead 19-12. The Eagles continued to put pressure on the Highlanders late in the set and Juniata took the win 25-16.

The Highlanders stuck with the Eagles for much of the third set, but a decisive kill by Vrooman put the Eagles up 16-14. Juniata continued to tack on points and clinched the match, 25-20.

NJIT will return to action on Tuesday, February 8 at 7pm when the Highlanders host Kean at the Fleisher Athletic Center.  The match was originally scheduled for January 27 in Newark.

(play by play courtesy Juniata Sports Information)