LORETTO, PA – The NJIT men's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision at EIVA Conference opponent Saint Francis U Friday night, snapping its six-match win streak, which began on March 8 against Coker.
The Highlanders six straight wins ties NJIT's longest win streak, which was set last season (2016), when NJIT won six straight (March 8 to April 1).
Both teams finish 1-1 against each other in the regular season, with the Highlanders winning the first match 3-2 in Newark on February 11.
NJIT's (13-8, 6-4 EIVA) senior
Jabarry Goodridge led all hitters with 20 kills, posting his sixth match with 20+ kills while adding eight digs and two aces.
In addition to Goodridge's 20 kills,
Brad Thele combined for 10 kills and three blocks while middle
Luke Robbe added eight kills and five total blocks.
Setter
Ricardo Whitaker tallied 43 assists and nine digs and libero
Shannon Heckman grabbed 11 digs.
The Red Flash (10-14, 5-4 EIVA) were led by Jeff Hogan who earned 16 kills, seven digs and four blocks, with help from Stephen Braswell and Michael Fisher each with 15 kills apiece.
In a close first set, the Highlanders posted its only victory of the match, 25-23, led by Goodridge with seven kills. NJIT edged out to an early 9-6 lead after a
Raymond Kowalski service ace. The Highlanders extended its lead to 15-11 before the Red Flash answered with a 4-1 run to tie the set at 16-16. A Michael Fisher kill forced NJIT to call a timeout, with the Highlanders leading 24-23, but a
Luke Allmond kill gave NJIT a 25-23 win in the opening set.
The Red Flash would take the next two sets 25-18 and 25-20, before taking the fourth in a long 32-30 set.
After trading points in the second set, a Fisher kill and two NJIT errors gave SFU a 9-5 lead. The Highlanders continued to chip away at the Flash lead, cutting the deficit to 12-10. Saint Francis U created some separation after going on a 4-2, highlighted by kills from Hogan and Fisher. A Keith Kegerreis service ace and a Highlanders service error sealed the victory, 25-18.
Tied at 6-6 early in the third set, SFU scored three unanswered points to gain some cushion at 9-6. The Red Flash continued to pressure the rest of the set and went on to a 25-20 win.
The fourth set was a back-and-forth affair that featured 23 ties and 24 lead changes. Saint Francis U opened up with a 6-3 lead as the Highlanders answered with a 5-0 run to take a 9-7 lead, forcing the Red Flash to take a timeout.
Tied at 10-10, neither team could gain more than a point advantage. The Flash fought off set point at 24-23 after a Braswell kill. SFU survived four set points before taking a 30-29 advantage. Two Highlander errors ended the marathon set, 32-30, as the Red Flash held on to secure the 3-1 victory.
NJIT will return to EIVA action on Saturday at 7pm when the Highlanders visit Penn State.
