NEWARK, NJ--Fourteen matches into the 2020 season, the NJIT men's volleyball team sat with a 9-5 overall mark and victories over three nationally-ranked teams before the season was shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wins Over Nationally Ranked Team
Jan. 11 vs. No. 12 USC | W, 3-0 
Jan. 23 vs. No. 10 Purdue Fort Wayne | W, 3-0
Mar. 6 vs. No. 11 Princeton | W, 3-0 

AVCA All-Americans
Alvaro Gimeno | AVCA Second-Team; 2020 Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year; EIVA First-Team; EIVA All-Academic Team

The 6-foot-9 outside hitter led the Highlanders in three categories -- kills (174; 3.62kps; 20th in the nation), service aces (25; 0.52aps; 9th in nation) and digs (74; 1.54dps). 

His .353 hitting percentage ranked 23rd in the nation. He reached double-digit kills in 12 out of 14 matches this season, including a career-best 26 kills at Geoge Mason (2.21).  The 26 kills ranks tied for second in the nation in a four-set match. 

Gimeno posted four service aces in a pair of matches (at Lindenwood (1.18); at George Mason (2.21), season-best eight digs in three matches and six total blocks (all assists) at McKendree (1.17).  

He was selected EIVA Defensive Player of the Week (2.24).

Luca Berger | AVCA Honorable Mention; EIVA First-Team; EIVA All-Academic Team

A three-year member of the NJIT men's volleyball program, Berger played one season at Coker College (2016-17) before transferring to NJIT in 2017-18. 

Berger, from Goiania, Brazil, is a three-time EIVA first-team and All-Academic team honoree. The 6-foot-10 middle blocker ranked second in the nation in blocks per set (1.39) and tied for first in the EIVA. 

This season, Berger combined for an impressive hitting percentage (.448) with 59 kills on 105 attempts with just 12 errors.  He notched 61 total blocks (55 block assists; 6 solo), including a career-high 11 blocks against USC on January 11, 2020. 

He was selected EIVA Defensive Player of the Week (1.13) and concluded his career, compiling 444 kills and 327 total blocks.

Off The Block Freshman All-American
Julian Meissner, the 2020 Freshman of the Year and second-team honoree in the EIVA, appeared in 14 matches in his first season at NJIT, ranking second on the team in kills (134; 2.98kps). He combined for 53 digs, 40 total blocks and 12 service aces.

The 6-foot-7 opposite registered seven double-digit kill matches, including career-best 16 kills vs. Ball State (1.25).  He posted a .583 hitting percentage in the Highlanders 3-0 win over Sacred Heart (15-1-24), eight digs at Lindenwood (1.18) and personal-best seven total blocks vs. USC (1.11).

AVCA Division I-II Men's Volleyball Poll
The NJIT men's volleyball program received votes in AVCA Men's Volleyball Poll during (Week 1, Week 3, Week 4).  Week one marked the first time the Highlanders received votes at the Division I-II level.

EIVA All-Conference Honors
Six Highlanders were recognized to the 2020 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) All-Conference team, headed by Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year Alvaro Gimeno and Freshman of the Year Julian Meissner.

Gimeno was selected 2020 Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year and named to the first-team.

Meissner tabbed 2020 Freshman of the Year and was named to the second-team.

In addition to Gimeno, senior Luca Berger earned first-team honors while junior Roque Nido joined Meissner on the second-team.

Jens Feldthus and Martin de Chavarria earned Honorable Mention honors.

EIVA All-Academic Honors
Seven NJIT men's volleyball players were selected to the 2020 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) All-Academic team.

Other Team Notes
--Started off the year with a 5-2 record (best record since the 2008 season)
--Winners of three straight; 5-1 at home; 9-5 overall when spring season was canceled due to coronavirus pandemic
--Winners of four straight (heading into EIVA play; Feb. 7)
--Roque Nido earned three major individual awards -- AVCA National Player of the Week (1.28.20), EIVA Offensive Player of the Week, Off the Block Setter of the Week
--Nido voted by the fans Off the Block Player of the Month (January)