Highights vs. Lindenwood

NEWARK, NJ—Newcomer Alvaro Gimeno registered a match-best 15 kills, leading NJIT to its first win in 2018 with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 26-24) sweep over visiting Lindenwood Thursday evening at the Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT (1-7) faced a challenging schedule to start out the season, facing five teams ranked in the AVCA Top 15 Coaches' Poll.  Lindenwood moves to 4-2 on the young season.

Alvaro, from Salou Spain, hit an impressive .609 for the match, posting 15 kills on 23 attempts with just one error.  He added four digs, match-high three service aces and two block assists for the Highlanders.

Sophomore Piotr Namiotko combined for eight kills, five digs and four block assists while middle Kevin Myren put together a strong performance in front of the net with six kills, one error on eight swings for a .625 hitting percentage.

Junior setter Ricardo Whitaker piled up a match-high 31 assists while libero Shannon Heckman was the match-leader with eight digs.

The Highlanders held an edge in team blocking 9-to-5 paced by middle Luca Berger's five total blocks (1 solo, 4 assists) and Namiotko's four block assists.

Nathan Van Dellen led Lindenwood with eight kills followed by Charley Hlavin with seven.  Adam Brewster added 25 assists and libero Ryan Vorderer posted six digs.  Middle Connor Hipelius led the Lions with four total blocks (1 solo, 3 assists).

The first which seesawed back-and-forth throughout the match, saw 13 ties and four ties.  After a 21-21 tie, NJIT's Gimeno recorded consecutive kills to put the Highlanders ahead, 23-21, resulting in a Lindenwood timeout.  The Lions used a 3-1 spurt to knot the set at 24-all but it was the Highlanders, who came out on top, scoring the final two points of the set for a 26-24 victory.

NJIT jumped out to a 15-9 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 25-16 victory paced by Alvaro with five kills.

The third set, another seesaw affair, saw 16 ties and 10 lead changes.  Lindewood held a 22-19 lead and then pushed ahead 24-21, resulting in a Highlander timeout.  After the Highlanders regrouped, NJIT scored the final six points of the match, earning a 26-24 victory and the teams' first win of the 2018 season.

NJIT will break for nine days and return to action on February 3, hosting Belmont Abbey at 7pm in the Wellness and Events Center.