NEWARK, NJ--The NJIT men's volleyball team will hit the road this weekend for a pair of EIVA Conference matches at Saint Francis U on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3.
Game Information
Game times are slated for 7pm on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3. Both matches will be streamed live on NEC Front Row and in-game statistics are available for both matches on www.SFUAthletics.com .
Highlanders Move Up One Spot to No. 10 in NVA/AVCA Top-15 Ranking
The NJIT men's volleyball program moved up one spot to No. 10 in the recent National Volleyball Association (NVA)/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I-II Men's Coaches top-15 poll the organization announced.
This marks the first time in program history the Highlanders are ranked in the top 10.
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.
NJIT nationally: ranked top-12 nationally in four team categories: seventh in hitting percentage (.322), fifth in opponent hitting percentage (.207), eighth in service aces per set (1.56) and 12th in blocks per set (2.23).
Luca Berger's 1.118bps ranks eighth in the nation while topping the EIVA.
Last Time Out
The Highlanders last played on March 20-21 against now-ranked No. 8 Penn State. The Nittany Lions swept the weekend series from the Highlanders.
Last weekend, NJIT's matches against Charleston (WV) were cancelled due to a positive COVID-19 test among the Charleston (WV) program.
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 | 3.36kps, .319 H%
Julian Meissner | 3.35kps, .299 H%
Luca Berger | .467 H%, 1.18bps
Griffin Fieseler | 9.31aps
Scouting the Red Flash
Saint Francis U enters the weekend matches with a 5-10 overall record and 4-10 in the EIVA. Most recently, the Red Flash dropped a pair of matches against No. 15 George Mason in close sets.
Michael Fisher tops the EIVA in total kills (199), second in kills per set (3.83kps) while Matthew Menosky (136) and AJ Schmidt (94) ranks in the top five in total digs.
In the last meeting in Newark on February 25-26, the Highlanders swept both matches.
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.
