FAIRFAX, VA–NJIT battled with No. 5 Pepperdine Friday evening as the Waves registered a 3-1 victory over the Highlanders in non-conference men's volleyball action on the campus of George Mason University.

Pepperdine, ranked No. 5 in the latest AVCA Division I-II Poll, improves to 6-1 on the season while the Highlanders move to an even 4-4 on the season.

The Waves went ahead 2-0, recording a 25-20 win in the first frame and 25-19 in the second.  NJIT battled back in the third set, hitting an impressive .360 to force a fourth set with a 26-24 victory.  NJIT led for most of the way in the fourth set until the 20's as the Waves closed out the set on a 9-1 run for a 25-22 win.

Pepperdine's Jaylen Jasper led all players with 19 kills while adding six digs and four block assists.  He finished with a .353 hitting percentage.

The Waves registered 11 service aces in the match paced by four aces from Bryce Dvorak and Akin Akinwumi.

NJIT was led by Julian Meissner and Alessandro Negri who each recorded 11 kills in the match.  Martin de Chavarria combined for a .583 hitting percentage on eight kills, 12 attempts and one error followed by Carson Williams with seven kills on 14 attempts for a .357 hitting percentage.

Setter Roque Nido notched 35 assists, four digs and four block assists for the Highlanders while Negri paced the Highlanders with six digs.

In front of the net, NJIT held a 11.5-to-9.0 advantage in total team blocks led by a team-best six total blocks (one solo, five assist) from Williams and four block assists from de Chavarria and Meissner.

NJIT will return back home inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center and host four straight matches, beginning with Saint Francis U at 4pm on Friday, February 3.