NEWARK, NJ—Rutgers-Newark, ranked fourth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Men's Coaches Top-15 Poll, defeated visiting NJIT, 3-0, in men's volleyball non-conference action at the Golden Dome Arena Tuesday evening.

The Scarlet Raiders (17-1) won their ninth straight match, 25-21, 25-18 and 25-19 while the Highlanders, who entered the contest, coming off a 2-0 week in EIVA play, dropped to 2-11 on the season.

Rutgers-Newark finished the match with a .353 hitting percentage, including .400 in the second set and .519 in the final frame.

The Scarlet Raiders were paced by senior middle Cody Chidsey, who recorded 10 kills on 15 swings with just one error for a .600 hitting percentage.  Junior outside hitter Jack Fredricks added nine kills while sophomore Francisco Bruno posted six kills.

Senior setter Kevin McCandless led the match with 36 assists and shared team-high honors with Quocmy Nguyen in the digs category with six. 

Redshirt senior TJ Jurko recorded a match-best 11 kills and added six digs for NJIT, while junior outside hitter Jabarry Goodridge posted nine kills for NJIT. 

Sophomore setter Cameron Tait piled up 21 assists while freshman libero Chris Wise dug-up a match-best eight digs for the visiting Highlanders.

In the first, the Highlanders jumped at 12-8 lead, but the Scarlet Knights used a 5-1 spurt knotting the score at 13.  Rutgers-Newark went ahead 16-14 and extended its lead to 20-17, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  The home team closed out the set on a 4-1 spurt for a 25-21 advantage.

The second set remained close early on, but the Scarlet Raiders used a 4-1 spurt, taking an 18-13 lead.  NJIT scored two straight points, pulling with three, 15-18, on a kill by Goodridge.  Rutgers-Newark went on a 7-3 run and won 25-18.

In the final set, which saw six ties and one lead change, Rutgers-Newark broke a 13-13 tie on a short 3-1 run, pulling ahead 16-14.  After a point by the Highlanders, coming out a timeout, Rutgers-Newark scored three straight, extending its lead to 19-15.  The Scarlet Raiders scored the final three points of the match, for a 25-19 victory.

NJIT will return to EIVA action on Friday at 7pm when the Highlanders host George Mason in the Fleisher Athletic Center.