NEWARK, NJ--A big Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Conference series is coming up for the No. 11 NJIT men's volleyball team as the Highlanders host No. 9 Penn State in a pair of matches this weekend.

Game Information
Game times are slated for 4pm on Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20.  Both matches will be streamed live on America East TV and in-game statistics are available for both matches on www.NJITHighlanders.com.

Highlanders Remain No. 11 in NVA/AVCA Top-15 Ranking
The NJIT men's volleyball program remained at No. 11 in the recent National Volleyball Association (NVA)/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I-II Men's Coaches top-15 poll the organization announced.

The Highlanders cracked into the top-15 poll in week four, after a weekend split at then-ranked No. 11 Penn State on February 14, marking the first time in program history.  The win for the Highlanders marked the first time since 1998 NJIT defeated Penn State.

Since the victory at Penn State, NJIT has won its last nine matches, moving to 11-3 overall, 11-1 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) and 4-0 at home inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.

All-Time Series
Penn State leads the all-time series 46-2.  Both teams last lost matches when they split their series on Feb. 13-14 at Rec Hall (3-1 PSU, 3-0 NJIT). 

Last Time Out
NJIT won its ninth straight match of the season with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) victory at Sacred Heart Saturday evening in EIVA Conference men's volleyball action.

No. 11 NJIT recorded its third straight 3-0 sweep, won its ninth straight match, improved to 11-3 overall and 11-1 in the EIVA.  

The nine wins in a row is the longest current run in the nation and the Highlanders' 11-3 record is the program's best start to a season since opening 2007 with records of 9-2 and eventually 12-4.

NJIT nationally: ranked top-10 nationally in four team categories, sitting second in hitting percentage (.338), third in opponent hitting percentage (1.90), fourth in service aces per set (1.64) and ninth in blocks per set (2.31).

Luca Berger's 1.156bps ranks ninth in the nation while topping the EIVA.

Preseason EIVA Coaches Poll
NJIT has been selected second in the 2021 Preseason Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Coaches' Poll.  

The Highlanders stood at 9-5 overall, 4-3 in the EIVA, when play was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.  NJIT returns all seven starters led by Gimeno, who shared Co-Player of the Year honors in the EIVA.

Penn State is the favorite to return to the top of the EIVA this season and were a near-unanimous selection, earning five of the six votes from the coaches. 

NJIT picked up the other first-place vote while Penn State was the favorite. 

Team Statistical Leaders
Alvaro Gimeno | 3.38kps, .327 H%
Julian Meissner | 3.21kps, .296 H%
Luca Berger | .488 H%, 1.16bps
Griffin Fieseler | 9.37aps

Scouting Penn State
The Nittany Lions cracked the top 10 in this week's AVCA poll tied for No. 9, tied for its highest ranking this season and 18th-straight week in the poll. PSU also ranked 10th in the Off the Block media poll.

Junior opposite hitter Cal Fisher is one of the top servers and point scorers in the nation. His 35 service-ace total leads all players in the country. Fisher also has double-digit points in every Penn State win this season.

Penn State nationally: 2nd in aces (99), T2nd in aces per set (2.11), 5th in hitting percentage (.318) and 10th in opponent hitting percentage (.222).

Next Up
The two teams will conclude its two-match EIVA weekend series on Saturday at 4pm.

Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the 2021 NJIT men's volleyball season by following @NJITMVB on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Men's Volleyball page on Facebook.