SANTA BARBARA, CA–The NJIT men's volleyball team dropped its season-opening match of the 2024 season, 3-1, at No. 15 UC Santa Barbara in the opening round of the Asics Invitational hosted by the Gauchos inside Rob Gymnasium.
UC Santa Barbara and NJIT were even at 1-1 after two sets, with the Gauchos taking the first set, 27-25, as the Highlanders picked up a 25-23 win in the second frame, clinching the set on a UC Santa Barbara serving error. The Gauchos registered a 25-17 victory in the third frame and went on to secure the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth set.
In the first frame, NJIT down by as many as four late in the set, 20-16, saw a combined 13 ties and four lead changes, with the final tie coming at 25-all. The Gauchos scored the final two points to take the first set, 27-25. UC Santa Barbara combined for a .571 hitting percentage.
Both teams traded points early in the second set, with NJIT using a 3-1 run to go ahead, 13-11 and later 17-14. The Gauchos down by as many as four, 23-19, rallied to cut the Highlander deficit to one, 24-23, but an error by the home team secured the 25-23 victory for NJIT to even the match at 1-1.
UC Santa Barbara recorded a .500 hitting percentage in the third set behind 14 kills on 22 swings with just three errors. The Gauchos jumped out to a 12-8 lead and later went on a 6-1 run to extend its lead to as many as eight, 19-11. NJIT went on a quick 3-1 spurt to slim the lead down to seven, 23-16. The Gauchos closed the set on a 2-1 run for a 25-17 victory and went up 2-1.
The home team went on a run in the mid-teens to give the Gauchos a five-point lead, 18-13. NJIT rallied for a late 4-1 spurt, cutting the UC Santa Barbara lead to within five, 23-18, but the Gauchos would secure the match with a pair of kills for a 25-19 victory, securing its first win of the season, 3-1 over the visiting Highlanders.
NJIT was paced by Josh Gregg and Will Migdal with nine kills each. Senior setter Griffin Fieseler piled up 33 assists and added three block assists. Graduate student Carson Williams combined for five total blocks (one solo, four assists) for the Highlanders.
Geste Bianchi led the match with 21 kills, hitting an impressive .531 followed by Ben Coordt (11 kills), George Bruening (8 kills) and Josh Aruya (8 kills). Jack Walmer led all players with 43 assists and defensively Bianchi recorded six digs and five total blocks (all assists).
Day two of the 2024 Asics Invitational will feature NJIT against CSUN in the nightcap on Friday, January 5 at 7pm (PT)/10pm(ET). Live stats will only be available for the match.
