LORETTO, PA—Outside hitters TJ Jurko and Jabarry Goodridge combined for 38 kills for NJIT, but the visiting Highlanders dropped their second straight 3-1 decision of the weekend at Saint Francis U Saturday evening in EIVA men's volleyball action.

The Flash improve to 2-3 in the EIVA, 7-6 overall, while the Highlanders fall to 0-2 in the conference, 0-10 on the season.

Saint Francis U outside hitters Stephen Braswell and Jeff Hogan each had 15 kills for the winners.  Braswell combined for a .400 hitting percentage on 30 swings with just three errors.  Mike Marshman hit .438, recording eight kills on 16 attempts with one error.

Setter Daniel Ford finished with 40 assists and Keith Kegerreis posted a match-high three service aces.  Defensively, Gabe Woffindin led the Flash with seven digs while Hogan recorded a match-high five total blocks (assists) as Saint Francis U held a 10.5-to-4.5 team blocking advantage.

NJIT's Jurko put together a strong match, setting a new season-best mark with 20 kills and added six digs followed by Goodridge's 18 kills and seven digs.  Goodridge has recorded double-digit kill totals in all seven matches played this season (missed four matches early on due to a concussion).

Sophomore setter Cameron Tait combined for a new personal-best 44 assists to go along with five digs and three blocks (all assists) for the Highlanders.  Freshman libero Chris Wise led the Highlander defense with 11 digs followed by Goodridge (7) and Jurko (6).

The opening set went back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than two.  Tied at 7-7, NJIT went an on quick 3-0 run, to take a 10-7 lead.  The Highlanders used another 3-0 spurt, extending their lead, 17-12, coming out of a Saint Francis U timeout.  The Flash came as close as three, 21-24, but NJIT secured the 25-21 win on a Flash service error.

The second frame saw seven early ties, the final at 10-10, and the Flash used a 7-3 spurt, pulling ahead of the visitors, 17-13, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  The Highlanders pulled within two four times, the last 21-23, after a kill by Goodridge.  The Flash scored the final two points of the set for a 25-21 victory.

The third set seesawed until the Highlanders held an early two-point cushion, 8-6.  The Flash used a 5-2 spurt to jump ahead, 10-8.  NJIT battled back and knotted the set at 16 on a kill by Luke Robbe.  The set saw one more tie, 19-19, on block assists from Tait and Raphael Anthony.  The Flash finished off the set on a 5-3 spurt and secured the win, 25-22, to go up 2-1.

Saint Francis U hit .429 in the final set and took control of the set in the mid-teens.  The Flash went on to win 25-18.

NJIT will return to action on February 26 when the Highlanders host EIVA opponent Sacred Heart at 7pm in the Fleisher Athletic Center.