NEWARK – NJ – NJIT men's volleyball earned their second consecutive win sweeping visiting Belmont Abbey 25-23, 25-11 and 25-16 at the Wellness and Events Center on Saturday night.

The Highlanders (2-7) were led by freshman Alvaro Gimeno who led the team in kills (12), aces (5) and blocks (4). Gimeno leads the team in kills with 90 and aces with 17 and is second in the team in blocks with 13.

Middle Kevin Myren hit .625, getting five kills and adding four digs, three blocks, two serving aces.

Piotr Namiotko added six kills and four digs, while Raymond Kowalski made five kills hitting .500 and grabbed four digs.

Setters Pat Howell and Ricardo Whitaker split time for NJIT, with Howell posting 15 assists and Whitaker got 12 along with three block assists.

Libero Shannon Heckman led the team in digs with eight.

For Belmont Abbey (2-5) Liam Maxwell tallied 10 kills and one block while Bryce Sullivan made 13 assists and one serving ace.

Rob Valentine produced a game-high nine digs.

The Highlanders led in every category, dominating in aces scoring 12-1 and blocks 8-1, while hitting .366 percent during the game, and .556 in the second set alone.

The first set was the closest, in back and forth play that the Highlanders were able to capitalize on. Belmont Abbey had the edge in kills 12-10, but the Highlanders were able to come away with the win.

In the second set NJIT took a commanding 7-0 lead before the Crusaders scored their first point. The Highlanders never lost their lead and won by 14 points.

The third started similar to the second set with NJIT jumping ahead to a 6-1, before Belmont Abbey snuck back to come within one point 10-9. The Highlanders pulled again scoring the next four points and never diminished their lead the rest of the set.

NJIT stars up EIVA Conference play traveling to Farifax, VA to face George Mason on February 16 for a 7pm match. The Highlanders return home on February 23 hosting Sacred Heart and Harvard on February 24.