VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
ROMEOVILLE, IL–Lewis, ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA Men's Division I-II Coaches Poll, topped visiting NJIT, 3-1, in the season opener for Highlanders Friday evening in non-conference men's volleyball action.
The Flyers (2-0) won the first frame 25-20 but the Highlanders (0-1) bounced back to even the score at 1-1 with a 25-18 victory in the second frame. Lewis recorded a 25-17 victory in set three and cruised to a 25-13 win in the fourth set for a 3-1 victory.
Junior Julian Meissner led the match with 15 kills while adding a team-best seven digs and three block assists. Senior Jens Feldthus combined for 11 kills and added two aces while junior middle Carson Williams notched four kills on eight attempts with just one error for a .375 hitting percentage. Wiliams added three block assists.
Sophomore Griffin Fieseler piled up a match-best 28 assists and senior Martin de Chavarria paced the Highlanders in front of the net with five total blocks (one solo, four assists).
Lewis was paced by Tyler Mitchem's team-best 14 kills followed by John Davis with 11 kills. Tyler Morgan led the match defensively with eight digs. Middle Michael Sack led the match with six total blocks (one solo, five assists) in the win.
In the first set, both teams traded points early in the frame up until, 10-9, when Lewis used a quick 5-2 spurt for a 14-10 advantage and later extended ahead 21-15, resulting in an NJIT timeout. NJIT responded scoring four consecutive points, pulling within four of the Flyers, 24-20, on back-to-back blocks by Martin de Chavarria. Lewis scored the final point to take the first set, 25-20.
Another tight start to the second frame into the mid-teens as the Highlanders scored four consecutive points, capped by an ace by Fieseler for an 18-14 lead. NJIT closed out the frame on a 7-4 spurt, including three consecutive kills for the Highlanders to earn the 25-18 victory to tie the match at 1-1.
After an early tie in the third set, 4-4, Lewis used a 5-1 run to take a 9-5 lead, resulting in an NJIT timeout. The Highlanders inched their way back into the set, 13-11, behind three straight points, pulling within two, on back-to-back attacking errors for the Flyers. Lewis gained its momentum back, extending its lead up to five, 17-12. The visitors cut the lead to three, 18-15 but Lewis took control, closing out the frame on a 8-2 run for a 25-17 victory.
The Flyers hit an impressive .600 in the fourth frame, jumping out to an early advantage, 6-1, and pushed its lead up to 11-4 and never looked back to record a 25-13 win to take the match, 3-1.
NJIT will return to action on Saturday at 7pm(CT)/8pm(ET) when the Highlanders visit No. 8 Loyola Chicago.
The Ramblers are 8-0 all-time against the Highlanders with its most recent meeting in 2021.
