NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT men's volleyball team will open the 2022 season this weekend when the Highlanders visit a pair of teams in the AVCA Men's Division I-II Coaches Top 15 Poll, No. 8 Loyola Chicago and No. 9 Lewis this weekend in Chicago.
Game Information
NJIT at No. 9 Lewis
Friday, January 14, 2022
7PM (CT)/8PM (ET)
Watch: GLVCSN Network
NJIT at No. 8 Lewis
Saturday, January 15, 2022
7PM (CT)/8PM (ET)
Watch ($$): ESPN+ Network
2022 Preseason AVCA Men's Division I-II Preseason Coaches Poll
NJIT was selected T-15 in the 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Men's Division I-II Coaches Top 15 Poll the organization announced on Tuesday, December 20.
2022 Preseason EIVA Coaches Poll
NJIT, which was picked second for the second consecutive season, is led by 2021 Bob Sweeney EIVA Coach of the Year Danny Goncalves. Last season, NJIT combined for 13 wins, the most for NJIT since 2017.
The 2021 season marked the first time the Highlanders made an appearance in the EIVA Tournament since 2008.
2021 Rewind
The 2021 season saw eighth-year head coach Danny Goncalves' squad break into the National Volleyball Association (NVA)/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I-II Men's Coaches top-15 poll after splitting a weekend EIVA series with then-ranked No. 11 Penn State on February 14.
NJIT (13-6) made its first appearance in program history in the NVA/AVCA top-10 on March 29, 2021 at the No. 10 spot.
The 11-3 start was the best since 2007, when the Highlanders went 10-4 and the nine consecutive victories is the most in a row since 2017.
Six Highlanders were selected to the 2021 EIVA All-Conference Team (three first team; two second-team; one honorable mention).
Last Season vs. Lewis
No. 4 Lewis rallied back, down 2-0, to win a five-set thriller from NJIT despite Alvaro Gimeno's season-best 20 kills on day two at the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis U at DeGol Arena in men's volleyball non-conference action.
In the fifth and deciding set, Lewis went up 4-1 and extended its lead to 6-3. A 3-1 run by the Highlanders closed the Flyers gap to one, 7-6, on a kill by Julian Meissner. NJIT tied the set at 9-9 after three straight points by the Highlanders. Lewis closed out the match with a 6-2 run for a 15-12 victory in the final set for a come-from-behind win, 3-2.
Lewis is 12-1 all time against the Highlanders with its most recent meeting in 2021. NJIT's lone win over the Flyers was on January 20, 2006 when the Highlanders won a five-set thriller, 3-2.
Scouting No. 9 Lewis
Lewis returns 11 players and three starters from last season's (21-3) Final Four team including All-Americans Tyler Mitchem and Kevin Kauling. Also back are Cole Brillhart, Carlos Jimenez, Joe Kenzinger, Jason Gibbs, Alec Lenhert, Carter Burzlaff and Michael Sack.
The Flyers were picked to finish second in this year's Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Preseason Coaches Poll.
Mitchem and Kauling were named to the Preseason All-MIVA Team and Mitchem was also selected as the Preseason MIVA Player of the Year.
Last Season vs. Loyola Chicago
Loyola Chicago swept the 2021 season opener from NJIT at the Saint Francis U Invitational.
The Ramblers are 8-0 all-time against the Highlanders with its most recent meeting in 2021.
Scouting No. 8 Loyola Chicago
Loyola Chicago enters the weekend 0-2 after dropping a pair of matches to No. 1 Hawaii. The Ramblers will host EIVA member Saint Francis U on Friday, January 14 and NJIT on January 15.
The Ramblers are returning most of their lineup from last season and hope to build off that success. They return all but one of their key players from last season, including Honorable Mention All-Americans Garrett Zolg and Cole Schlothauer, along with Colton Brooks, Matt Oakley, Andrew Lyons, Ben Montplaisir and Jimmy Meinhart.
Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the NJIT Men's Volleyball season by following @NJITMVB on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Men's Volleyball page on Facebook.
