HONOLULU–The second-ranked University of Hawaii swept visiting NJIT, 3-0, Sunday evening in men's volleyball non-conference action at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. 

Hawaii (2-0) won in straight sets – 25-17, 25-16 and 25-17 while NJIT moved to 0-2 on the young season.

For the second straight match of the season, newcomer André Aleixo paced the Highlanders with nine kills followed by Parker Moorhead (6), Wiktor Nowak (6), Andrew Fedmasu (5) and Daniel Latkowski (5).  Latkowski finished the match with a .444 hitting percentage.

Setter Bruno Figueiredo combined for 24 assists and four assists.  Aleixo and Fedmasu each combined for three total blocks (one solo, two assists).

Hawaii took an early lead over the Highlanders in the first frame, 10-3, but NJIT responded with a 4-1 run to pull within 11-7 on a kill by Wiktor Nowak.  The Rainbow Warriors used a 7-2 spurt to extend its lead to 18-9.  NJIT cut the Hawaii deficit to six, 20-14, behind three straight points but the Rainbow Warriors went on to take a 25-17 win and jump ahead 1-0.

Both teams traded points to begin the second set as Hawaii jumped out 9-5.  NJIT closed the gap to within two, 12-9, after a kill by Daniel Latkowski but the Rainbow Warriors increased its advantage to 15-9 at the media timeout. The Rainbow Warriors continued to stay in control and pushed its lead to double-figures, 22-12, and took the second frame, 25-16, for a 2-0 lead.  The Highlanders combined for a .269 hitting percentage for the set.

The third set, the closest of the three, saw the Highlanders stay within two of the Rainbow Warriors until Hawaii took a three-point lead at the media timeout, 15-12.  Following the timeout, Hawaii scored six unanswered to take a 21-12 lead and would go on to secure the 3-0 sweep with a 25-17 victory.

Hawaii was led by Kristian Titriyski with 11 kills.

Next Up
The NJIT will return to action when the Highlanders play three matches in Ohio and Indiana – Ohio State (Jan. 9), Ball State (Jan. 10) and Purdue Fort Wayne (Jan. 11).

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