​NEWARK, NJ–Sophomore Wiktor Nowak led NJIT with 19 kills as the Highlanders defeated visiting Jessup, 3-1, in men's volleyball non-conference action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT went ahead 2-0 with a 25-23 victory in the first frame and 25-22 win in the second but Jessup was victorious in the third frame with a 25-16 victory.  In the fourth frame, the Highlanders secured the 3-1 win with a 25-18 victory.

In addition to Nowak's 19 kills, freshmen Alex Heins and Andre Aleixo each combined for eight kills while classmate Gustavo Chrcanovic added five kills on seven swings for a .714 hitting percentage. 

Setter Bruno Figueiredo piled up 39 assists and added seven digs as Aleixo led the Highlanders with nine digs and libero Diego Lopez added eight.

In front of the net, Heins recorded three total blocks and in the service ace category, Aleixo recorded four in the win.

NJIT got off to a quick start in the first set, 7-1, resulting in a timeout by Jessup.  Jessup inched their way back and knotted the score at 10-all, on a 5-2 run.  NJIT held a two-point lead until the late teens when Jessup tied the set at 22-22.  After a timeout by NJIT, the Highlanders scored the final two out of three points for a 25-23 victory and took a 1-0 lead.

Both teams traded points early in the second set and after an 8-8 tie, NJIT scored the next three points for a 12-8 lead, resulting in a Jessup timeout.  The Warriors answered and the set saw eight ties until NJIT scored three straight points for a 22-19 lead on a kill by Ian Nguyen.  Jessup pulled within one, 22-21, and the Highlanders closed out the set on a 3-1 spurt for a 25-22 win and for a 2-0 advantage. NJIT finished the set hitting .379 with 14 kills on just three errors and 29 attempts.

Jessup started out the third frame on a 3-1 run and the Highlanders came back to tie the set at 6-all.  The Warriors went ahead by three, 9-6, and pushed its lead to as many as seven, 16-9.  The Highlanders cut the lead to five, 19-14, and Jessup closed out the frame on a 6-2 spurt for a 25-16 victory for a 2-1 score.

NJIT took control of the fourth set, 7-2, and the Highlanders maintained a three-point lead until Jessup went on a 4-1 run to cut the Highlanders deficit to one, 12-11.  NJIT took a five-point lead, 16-11, on a service ace by Andre Aleixo.  A 4-1 short run by the home team increased its lead to five, 20-14 and the Highlanders went on to secure the 3-1 victory with a 25-18 win in the fourth frame.  NJIT hit an impressive .417 with 13 kills on 24 swings and just three errors.

Jessup was led by three players in double-figures – Jan Lopuch (19), Carter Depue (11) and Jonas Mueller (10).  Colin Marks registered a match-high 45 assists.

The two teams will be back in action on Saturday at 4pm.