FAIRFAX, VA--Despite a career-high 26 kills from NJIT junior outside hitter Alvaro Gimeno, No. 15 George Mason earned a 3-1 victory over the visiting Highlanders in EIVA men's volleyball action Friday evening at the Recreational Athletic Center.
George Mason moves back to the win column, improving to 8-5 overall, 3-1 in the EIVA while the Highlanders drop to 6-5 overall, 1-3 in the EIVA.
Visiting NJIT took the first frame in extra points, 28-26, but the Patriots answered with three straight wins -- 25-21, 25-17 and 27-25 to earn the 3-1 victory.
Gimeno sets a new career-high in kills with 26, surpassing his old mark of 20 kills vs. Saint Francis U (March 3, 2018). He combined for a .523 hitting percentage on 44 swings with just four errors, including a team-best seven digs and four service aces. Gimeno has now recorded double-digit kills in 10 out of 11 matches this season.
Jens Feldthus posted 12 kills while middle blockers Luca Berger and Martin de Chavarria each combined for eight kills. De Chavarria posted a .638 hitting percentage followed by Berger with a .538 hitting percentage.
Sophomore setter Roque Nido was one assist shy of his personal-best mark, piling up a match-high 47 assists to go along with four digs. De Chavarria led the Highlanders in front of the net with four total blocks (two solo, two assists). Freshmen Joe Kennedy and Julian Meissner recorded five digs each.
George Mason was led by Sam Greenslade and Richie Hoff who combined for 15 kills apiece while Jack Reese recorded a .750 hitting percentage on nine kills and 12 swings with no errors.
The Patriots setter Zach Talamoa posted a team-best 48 assists while Hoff led all players defensively with nine digs.
First Set | NJIT 28, George Mason 26
Visiting NJIT jumped out to a 7-3 advantage but the Patriots used a 6-2 run, knotting the set at 9-all. Both teams traded points with the Highlanders using a 4-2 spurt midway through the set, taking a 19-16 lead after three straight kills by NJIT. George Mason tied the frame at 24, 25 and 26-all before the Highlanders scored the final two points of the set on a kill by Gimeno and Patriot attacking error for a 28-26 victory.
Second Set | George Mason 25, NJIT 21
George Mason scored the first four points of the second frame but the Highlanders rallied back to knot the score at 5-all. The set saw six more ties, the final at 12-all, which saw the Patriots use an 11-3 run for a 22-15 advantage. NJIT pulled as close as three points, 23-20, after four consecutive points by the Highlanders but the Patriots scored the final two out of three points for a 25-21 victory.
Third Set | George Mason 25, NJIT 17
The Patriots continued its momentum, taking a 5-2 lead and later extending to 19-10 behind a late 5-1 run and the home team cruised to a 25-17 victory.
Fourth Set | George Mason 27, NJIT 25
Both teams traded points throughout the frame with neither team leading by as many as three. The set saw six late ties after 20-all and the Patriots closed out the set on a pair of back-to-back points to secure the 27-25 victory on a block assist from Hoff and Bryce Gatling.
NJIT will play the next four of its five matches at home inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center. The Highlanders will return to Newark and host Harvard on February 28 at 6pm and Sacred Heart on February 29 at 4pm. Both matches will be streamed live on the Highlanders Sports Network.
