VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
CHICAGO, IL–The NJIT men's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision at No. 8 Loyola Chicago Saturday evening behind a match-best 17 kills from freshman Alessandro Negri in men's volleyball non-conference action.
Loyola Chicago picked up its second straight win of the season while the Highlanders dropped its second loss to a ranked opponent (L, 1-3 at No. Lewis; January 14) moving to 0-2 on the young season.
The Ramblers recorded a 25-23 victory in the first set and the Highlanders bounced back in the second set with a 25-22 win behind a .304 hitting percentage. Loyola Chicago cruised to a 25-16 win in the third set and held on for the victory with a 25-21 victory in the fourth frame for the 3-1 victory.
Loyola Chicago had three players reach double-digit kills led by Parker Van Buren's team-best 15 kills followed by Henry Payne and Colton Brooks who each combined for 10 kills. Payne finished the match with a .381 hitting percentage on 21 total attempts and just two errors. Setter Garrett Zolg piled up a match-best 40 assists and three service aces.
Defensively, the Ramblers held a 14.5 to 5.0 advantage in blocks paced by Andrew Lyons who combined for a total of 11 blocks (three solo, eight assists) followed by Van Burren with eight block assists.
Negri, playing in his second collegiate match of his career, combined for 17 kills on 34 attempts for a .353 hitting percentage and five errors. Julian Meissner posted 10 kills, four digs and two total blocks. Middle Martin de Chavarria added seven kills and three total blocks.
Griffin Fieseler and Roque Nido split time at the setting position posting 24 and 16 assists respectively.
The first set, which seesawed back-and-forth, saw 15 ties and three lead changes, with neither team leading by two points. Tied at 22-all, Loyola-Chicago used a quick 3-1 run, capped by a kill from Henry Payne to pick up the 25-23 victory.
After a 3-0 start for Loyola Chicago, NJIT battled back using a 4-1 run to knot the match at 8-all after three consecutive kills by the Highlanders. In the late teens, NJIT went on a 5-1 spurt and pulled ahead 19-16, resulting in a Ramblers timeout. Loyola Chicago closed the gap and tied the match at 22-all but the Highlanders finished the set on a 3-0 run behind three consecutive kills for the 25-22 win.
Loyola Chicago started off the third set on fire, jumping out to an 8-0 advantage and extended to 19-4. The Ramblers, who hit .625 for the set, cruised to a 25-16 victory.
The fourth set started off close with both teams traded points until 12-12 when Loyola went on a 8-1 spurt to open up the set ahead 20-13. NJIT responded with a run of their own, 5-1, midway through the frame, cutting the Rambler lead to three, 21-18, after a kill by Negri.
The home team scored three straight points, setting up match points, 24-18. NJIT fought back, scoring three straight points, resulting in a Loyola Chicago timeout for a 24-21 score. Out of the timeout, Van Burren put down the final point of the match as the Ramblers went on to win 25-21 and secure the 3-1 victory.
NJIT will play its next three matches at home inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center. The Highlanders will open up in Newark on Sunday, January 23, welcoming Purdue Fort Wayne at 6pm.
