NEWARK, NJ– Lincoln Memorial, ranked No. 18 in the latest AVCA Coaches poll swept No.19 NJIT, 3-0, in men's volleyball non-conference action Saturday afternoon inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
The Railsplitters won its fifth straight match of the season sweeping the Highlanders 25-22, 25-19 and 25-23, improving to 12-1 overall while NJIT dropped its third straight match, moving to 7-6 on the season.
Seniors Antonio Feliciano and Alessandro Negri both reached double-figures in the match, combining for 11 and 10 kills respectively. With the 10 kills by Negri this afternoon, he now needs three kills to reach the 1,000 career kills. Libero Diego Lopez combined for seven digs.
Middle Braden Goebbert registered five total blocks (one solo, four assists) in addition to five block assists by Wiktor Nowak. Setter Bruno Figueiredo notched 24 assists and four digs.
NJIT took control of the first set early with a 7-3 lead, resulting in a timeout by Lincoln Memorial. The Railsplitters rallied back into the set using a late push to knot the set at 11-all behind a 5-1 spurt. Both teams went back and forth with the Railsplitters scoring three straight points for an 18-16 lead, resulting in a timeout by NJIT. LMU maintained a three-point lead into the 20's and used a 3-1 spurt to secure the 25-22 victory to go ahead 1-0.
LMU continued to stay in control to begin the second set, 11-7, after a 4-1 spurt. After a timeout by NJIT, the Highlanders went on a 3-0 run to pull within one, 12-11. A 6-1 run by the visiting Railsplitters pushed its lead to as many as six, 19-13. The visitors closed out the frame on a 4-2 spurt to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-19 win.
NJIT began the third set on a 6-3 run but the Railsplitters worked its way back into the set behind a 6-1 run to take its first lead of the set, 14-12, resulting in an NJIT timeout. Mateusz Bobkowski registered a pair of kills to tie the set at 15-all but the Railsplitters scored back-to-back points for a 17-15 advantage. NJIT trailed by one into the late 20's but LMU closed out the match on a short 2-1 run to secure the 3-0 sweep with a 25-23 victory in the third frame.
LMU was led by three players – Matthew Gentry, Axel van Baars and Griffin Wheatley each combining for eight kills. Gentry hit an impressive .636 for the match on 11 swings and just one error. Eliel Salva Torres led all players with six total blocks (one solo, five assists) while John Luers added nine digs.
NJIT will be back in action on Friday at 6pm when the Highlanders host No. 16 Ohio State. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
