HONOLULU—The NJIT men's volleyball team registered its first win of the 2019 season in a five-set thriller, 3-2, over Concordia Irvine on the final day of the Rainbow Warrior Classic hosted by Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center.

NJIT (1-4) evened the match at 1-1, earning a close 25-23 victory in the second frame.  After a 25-15 victory by the Eagles in the third set, NJIT rallied back to force a fifth and deciding set with a 25-20 win in the fourth set.  In the deciding set, NJIT closed out the win on an 8-1 run to secure the 15-8 victory.

In the deciding set, which saw seven ties and six lead changes, saw the Highlanders use an 8-1 spurt, breaking a 7-7 tie and secure its first win of the season with a 15-8 victory.

The Highlanders had two players reach double-digits in the kills' category, paced by sophomore Alvaro Gimeno with 15 kills followed by Piotr Namiotko with 14.  Gimeno, who combined for a double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs, hit .281 for the match while Namiotko combined for a .206 hitting percentage.

Middle Enrique de Diego Garcia combined for a .375 hitting percentage, combining for nine kills on 16 attempts with just three errors followed by Rex Cusenbary, who posted a .571 hitting percentage with four kills on seven swings and no errors.

NJIT setter Ricardo Whitaker piled up 40 assists and added six digs while defensively, Namiotko and Whitaker each added six digs.  De Diego Garcia posted five total blocks (all assists) while four different Highlanders recorded two blocks (all assists) in the win.

Concordia Irvine's (0-6) Raymond Barsemian led the match with 20 kills followed by Jordan Hoppe with 11.  The Eagles split time at the setting position, paced by Chandler Gibb with 23 assists and Isaiah Pono Kaaa with 16.

Defensively, Hoppe and Addison Enriques combined for six digs each while Hunter Howell combined for six total blocks (one solo, five assists) for the Eagles.

The Highlanders will compete in the Golden Dome Classic at neighboring Rutgers-Newark on January 19.  NJIT will play Lehman (12pm) and the Scarlet Raiders (2pm).