UNIVERSITY PARK, PA–Penn State, ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA/NVA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Poll, defeated visiting NJIT, 3-1, in men's volleyball EIVA Conference action Friday evening inside South Gymnasium.
Penn State, winners of four straight, improved to 11-3 overall, 3-0 in the EIVA and 6-0 at home while the Highlanders moved to 7-7 overall, 0-2 in the conference.
NJIT, which hit .333 in the first set, registered a 25-23 victory to take a 1-0 lead but the Nittany Lions took the next three sets 25-15, 25-17 and 25-20.
Graduate student Carson Williams led the way for the Highlanders, combining for a .909 hitting percentage on 10 kills, no errors on 11 attempts to go along with four total blocks (two solo, two assists).
Senior Will Migdal combined for a team-best 13 kills followed by Alessandro Negri (8), Andrew Fedmasu (7) and Antonio Feliciano (6). Setter Griffin Fiesler recorded 38 assists and six digs. Fedmasu combined for four block assists in front of the net. Libero Ron Tidhar registered eight digs on the night.
Penn State started off the first set on a 4-1 run and held a two-point lead until NJIT went on a 5-2 spurt for a 13-12 lead. Neither team led by more than one the rest of the way, including seven ties, the final at 23-all. NJIT scored the final two points of the set to take the first frame, 25-23.
A close start to the second set saw Penn State use a n 8-2 run to take a 15-9 advantage and scored the final six out of seven points to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-15 victory.
The Nittany Lions continued its momentum into the third frame, opening up the frame 8-3. A 5-1 spurt by the Highlanders, including four straight capped by three consecutive kills by Will Migdal for a 10-10 score, resulting in a Penn State timeout. Three straight points by the home team put the Nittany Lions ahead by two, 13-11, resulting in a timeout by the Highlanders. The Nittany Lions went on an 8-5 run in the mid-teens, taking a 21-15 lead, resulting in NJIT's second timeout of the match. The home team scored the last four out of five points to go ahead, 3-1, with a 25-17 victory.
The fourth set both teams went back and forth with neither team leading by more than two points which continued into the mid-teens. The frame saw six more ties, the final at 19-all when Penn State scored five consecutive points to take a 23-19 advantage resulting in a timeout by NJIT. After a point by NJIT, the Nittany Lions scored the final two points to secure the 3-1 EIVA Conference home win with a 25-20 victory.
Penn State was led by John Kerr's game-best 14 kills followed by middle Toby Ezeonu's 12 kills with no errors on 15 attempts for an impressive .800 hitting percentage. Owen Rose led the Nittany Lions defensively, notching five total blocks. Ezeonu and Kerr each posted four block assists each.
As a team, the Nittany Lions combined for eight aces led by Rose and Michal Kowal with two apiece.
The two teams will be back in action on Saturday at 4pm. The match will be streamed live on B1G+.
