Post Game Interview w/ Goncalves and Goodridge

NEWARK, NJ—NJIT combined for a .453 hitting percentage behind senior Jabarry Goodridge's match-best 23 kills, leading NJIT to a 3-1 victory over visiting North Greenville in men's volleyball non-conference action at the Fleisher Athletic Center Wednesday evening.

NJIT, which opened the season at #11 Loyola-Chicago and #6 Lewis last weekend, picked up its first win of the 2017 season, defeating the Crusaders, 25-16, 25-20, 22-25 and 25-15.

Goodridge led the Highlanders with 23 kills on 37 swings with just three errors for a .541 hitting percentage.  NJIT's middle Luke Robbe combined for 10 kills on 12 attempts with only two errors for a match-best .667 hitting percentage.

Sophomore setter Ricardo Whitaker piled up a match-best 42 assists in addition to a three aces, as the Highlanders held a 7-to-4 edge.

NJIT libero Shannon Heckman led the match with seven digs and freshman Luke Allmond combined for four total blocks (1 solo, 3 assists).

North Greenville's Aaron Campbell led the Crusaders with 10 kills followed by seven from Matthew McManaway.  Setter Alexander Schinzing notched 27 assists and six digs while libero Dustin King added six digs.

The first frame saw two early ties and after a 7-7 knot, the Highlanders went on an 11-2 run, extending its lead to 18-9, after a kill by Goodridge.  NJIT built its lead to 23-14 and scored the final two points of the set for a 25-16 victory.  Goodridge led the set with six kills.

The Highlanders scored the first two points of the second set, which saw six ties, the final at 7-7, as NJIT scored five consecutive points for a 12-7 lead after a block by Goodridge.  The Highlanders held the lead through the late teens as North Greenville slimmed the lead to within four, 19-23, on a kill by Alexander Schinzing.  NJIT closed out the set on a short 2-1 spurt for a 25-20 win.
 
North Greenville hit an impressive .462 in the third frame and held a 21-17 advantage late in the set.  The Crusaders went up four, 24-20, on a kill by McManaway.  The Highlanders scored the next two points, pulling within two, 22-24.  After a timeout by the visitors, an attack error by NJIT awarded North Greenville a 25-22 victory.
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In the final frame, NJIT led 9-6 and later extended its lead to 15-8 and never looked back, securing the set 25-15.

NJIT will break for the next eight days and return to action on January 20 when the Highlanders host Kean College at 7pm in the Fleisher Athletic Center.