| Game 9 |
George Mason (8-2, 2-0 EIVA) at NJIT (4-4, 0-0 EIVA) |
| Date | Time |
Friday, February 15, 2018 | 6pm |
| Location | Arena |
Newark, NJ | Wellness and Events Center |
| Live Video | Live Audio |
ESPN+ | Ira Thor (PBP); Michael Ventola (Color) |
| Live Stats |
In-Game statistics (FREE) |
| Social Media |
@njithighlanders |
NEWARK, NJ—The NJIT men's volleyball team will open Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) action Friday night, hosting its home opener against, visiting George Mason on February 15 at 6pm on ESPN+.
Watch Game Live on ESPN+
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Ira Thor will handle the play-by-play with and color analysis from
Michael Ventola.
A simple way to find ESPN+ is on NJIT's official athletics website, www.njithighlanders.com. Near the middle of the home page under the headlines section, an upcoming events calendar lists scheduled NJIT contests. After finding the event, click the camera icon to the left of the event listing. That brings you to an ESPN+ portal where you can access the desired program.
Last Time Out vs. George Mason
The Patriots swept the regular season series from the Highlanders in 2018. NJIT last won on February 17, 2017, defeating the Patriots, 3-1.
Scouting the Highlanders
NJIT enters Friday's match with a .500 record 4-4, 0-0 EIVA and winners of its last four matches. The Highlanders win-streak began at the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Warrior Classic hosted by Hawaii, with a thrilling 3-2 win over Concordia Irvine. The four wins in a row marks the longest streak since 2017, when the Highlanders won six straight.
The Highlanders have registered 3-0 victories in its last three outings, most recently, a 3-0 victory at Kean on Monday night. Junior opposite
Piotr Namiotko paced the Highlanders with eight kills and five service aces.
Namiotko tops the Highlanders in kills per set (2.61) and service aces (18).
Alvaro Gimeno, the 2018 EIVA Rookie of the Year, ranks second on the team at 2.54kps and 38 digs (1.46dps).
Graduate student
Enrique de Diego Garcia a transfer from California Baptist University, is hitting an impressive .532 on the season with just four errors 37 kills and 62 attempts and ranking second with 22 total blocks (0.85bps). Middle
Luca Berger tops the team with 27 total blocks (1.17bps).
Scouting the Patriots
No. 13 George Mason (8-2, 2-0 EIVA) saw its win five-match win streak halted on Sunday, February 10, at No. 11 Ball State, in an exciting five-set decision.
Hayden Wagner tabbed the first double-double of his career with 20 kills and a career-high 11 digs.
George Mason will return three All-EIVA winners to the 2019 roster, including two first team selections in Wagner and Kyle Barnes. Wagner, AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, led the team in kills (306) and kills per set (3.48) last season. Barnes finished second on the team with 226 kills – good for 2.40 kills per set.
Redshirt sophomore Jack Reese, will look to make his presence known at the net after leading the team in blocks last season. Reese, an All-EIVA Second Team selection, ranked first on the team in blocks (72) – good for 0.96 b/s.
Returning 15 letter winners and adding three new faces to the program, the Patriots will look to clinch its second-straight EIVA regular season title.
The Patriots finished the 2018 season with a 17-12 overall record. Mason's 13-1 conference record led the Patriots to its first ever regular season EIVA championship.
George Mason set a new school record with 11 consecutive conference victories. The Patriots' best single-season conference winning percentage allowed them to host the EIVA Tournament for the first time since 1994.
Preseason EIVA Coaches' Poll
The Patriots were selected to finish third (3 1st-place votes, 51 points) in the EIVA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
NJIT, which finished with a 9-17 overall mark last season, were selected to finished fourth in the EIVA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 47 points, behind Princeton (56), Penn State (53) and defending regular-season champion George Mason (51).
