Box Score NEWARK, NJ—Penn State, the best men's volleyball team in the East and ranked 12th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, came to NJIT and swept the Highlanders 25-14, 25-23, and 25-17 in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
The Nittany Lions, who had already captured their 30th Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association title between regular season and postseason play, completed the 2014 regular season at 22-6 overall and 13-1 in the EIVA. They will host the EIVA postseason tournament next weekend in search of their 16th consecutive EIVA postseason title. The EIVA postseason tournament champ earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division I-II National Championship field of six.
NJIT, which did not earn a spot in the four-team EIVA tournament, completes its 2014 slate with a 10-16 record overall, including 3-11 in league competition.
Penn State's kills leaders were redshirt junior Nick Goodell (11 kills) and 2013 EIVA Player of the Year and 2014 preseason all-America junior Aaron Russell (10 kills). Taylor Hammond, the 2013 EIVA Newcomer of the Year, dished out 31 assists, while Russell served a match-best three aces.
Redshirt junior libero Connor Curry had a match-leading 8 digs for the Nittany Lyons, while Matt Seifert led the way blocking, collecting a block solo to go with three block assists.
Penn State had a 6-3 lead in service aces and an 8.0-to-4.5 lead in total team blocks.
TJ Jurko led NJIT's offense with 8 kills, while
Kajetan Borecki and
Dhruv Lad each registered six kills. Lad, the team's only senior, was honored along with his family members in pre-match ceremonies.
NJIT got one ace from each of three different men, while
Zak Robben was credited with 24 of NJIT's total 27 assists.
On defense, Jurko had a team-best 7 digs, while
Ryan Thomas had three block assists to head that department.
The opening set was close for a time, with four ties and two lead changes. A Russell kill made it 8-7 for the visitors, who eventually led 20-12 and closed the 25-14 set on a 3-1 run.
The second set finished the closest (25-23, Penn State) and there were six ties and five lead changes along the way. NJIT opened the frame 5-1 and led as late as 13-12 after a Jurko kill. But PSU answered, 3-0, and never trailed again. Although NJIT trailed, it got within a point at 21-22, 22-23, and 23-24, before a Matt Callaway kill marked set point for PSU, 25-23.
NJIT led the third set 10-8 and later was tied at 15-15 on another Jurko kill. But the Nittany Lions used a 3-0 mini-run from there, sparking a 10-2 finish to the set and match for the winners.
