NEWARK, NJ—NJIT sophomore Jabarry Goodridge notched a match-best 17 kills in the Highlanders' 3-1 victory over visiting Saint Francis U in Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) men's volleyball action Friday night at the Fleisher Athletic Center.

Goodridge led the way for the Highlanders, who also got 12 kills apiece from senior Chris Kaepernick and redshirt junior TJ Jurko.  The result raises NJIT's EIVA record to 3-7 and season mark to an even 11-11, while Saint Francis U falls to 6-18 overall, 4-6 in EIVA play.  NJIT sweeps the season series from the Red Flash, coupling Friday's match with a 3-1 victory in Loretto, PA on March 27.

Redshirt sophomore middle Luke Robbe hit .444 for the match with four kills on nine swings and no errors for the home team.

Senior setter Zak Robben posted a match-best 45 assists.  NJIT had a 12-to-7 service ace advantage paced by Jurko with four and Thomas, who added three.

Defensively, senior libero Oren Zyndorf shared match-high honors with Saint Francis U libero Jack Carlson with 11 digs. In front of the net, Thomas notched four blocks assists followed by Kaepernick and Jurko with two assists.

Saint Francis U was led by Stephen Braswell's 8 kills and 8 digs.  Mike Marshman finished the match with a .429 hitting percentage with six kills on 14 swings with no errors for the Red Flash.

Setter Daniel Ford piled up 24 assists and added six digs, while the Red Flash held a 15-to-5 team blocking advantage, paced by Keith Kegerreis (2 solo, 8 assists) and Jeff Hogan (8 assists).

The first frame was played close early, with five ties, the final one at 8-8 on a kill by NJIT's Jurko.  Saint Francis U used a 4-0 spurt to pull ahead 12-8.  NJIT rallied back with a 6-1 run keyed by three service aces by Jurko for a 14-13 advantage.  After a Red Flash kill by Marshman, the Highlanders scored the next four points, extending their lead to 18-14 on the way to a 25-19 victory.  NJIT's Goodridge and Jurko recorded three kills apiece in the set.

The second set, which saw six ties and two lead changes, was played tight the whole way through.  The Highlanders held a two-point lead out of a timeout late in the frame, on a kill by Goodridge for a 22-20 advantage.  After a point by Saint Francis U, NJIT scored the next two points for a 24-21 lead.  The Red Flash stayed in the set with back-to-back points slimming the lead to one, 24-23, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  NJIT's Goodridge recorded the final point of the frame for a 25-23 victory.

Saint Francis U jumped out to a 14-9 advantage in the third set.  The Highlanders got as close as 23-17 before the Red Flash scored three straight for a 25-18 win.    

In the final set of the match, NJIT opened up with a 7-2 spurt, extended the advantage to 12-5 and would increas its lead to 13, 21-8, late in the set. 

Saint Francis U battled back cutting the Highlander deficit to six, 22-16, after block assists by Shaughn McDonald and Kegerreis.  The Red Flash scored three consecutive points keeping the match alive and pulling within five, 24-19, on an NJIT attack error.  But Highlander senior Kaepernick put the match away with his 12^th kill of the night for a 25-19 victory.

NJIT will close the home portion of their schedule when the Highlanders host EIVA perennial champion #7 Penn State on Saturday at 3pm.  Before the match in pregame ceremonies, NJIT will honor four graduating seniors – Zyndorf, Kaepernick, Robben and Thomas.

NJIT's 3-2 defeat at Penn State on March 28, marked one of NJIT's best performances against the Nittany Lions in the last two decades.