Saturday, January 19
Newark, N.J.
7 p.m.
Purdue Fort Wayne
2
at
3
NJIT
Photo by: Lucas Carter
Men's Volleyball Tripped Up in Newark
1/19/2013 10:02:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
BOX SCORE (.pdf)
NEWARK, N.J. - The IPFW Mastodons saw a 2-1 set advantage erased, as the NJIT Highlanders forged ahead in the fourth and fifth sets, winning the five-set match by scores of 25-14, 21-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-13 in non-conference action on Saturday night.
Eddie Rivera knocked down a game- and season-high 18 kills, while Nick Smalter chipped in 15. Omar Rivera dished out 45 assists, while Ramon Burgos and Smalter each had seven blocks in the loss.
NJIT jumped out quickly to start the match, leaping ahead to a 6-1 lead in the first set, and never trailed, as the hosts used a separate 5-0 run to pull away late in a 25-14 opening-set win.
The Highlanders lead by two at 12-10 before IPFW got three straight service aces from Andy Sellan and a combo block from Omar Rivera and Saunders to take to a 15-12 lead, and never gave up the advantage, winning the second frame 25-21.
The third set was all IPFW, as the visitors had three separate 3-0 runs, including a set-ending 7-0 streak to take the third set 25-13, and putting the Mastodons a set away from the win.
The fourth set saw 15 ties and four lead changes, as neither team would lead by more than two points in the set, and NJIT got hot late, as IPFW led 21-20, but the hosts out-scored the 'Dons 5-2 the rest of the way to send the match into a deciding fifth set with a 25-23 score.
NJIT scored the first three points and four of the first five, and the early momentum proved too much to overcome, as IPFW could only tie the score three times at 8, 9, and 10-all. A kill by Eddie Rivera delayed match point and took the score to 14-13; however, a Herman Kantushov kill closed the door on the IPFW comeback, and giving the hosts the 15-13 win.
Chris Kapernick had 14 kills for NJIT, while Kantushov had 13 kills, and Doug Battersby 10.
The Mastodons return to the Gates Sports Center on Friday night, as the squad hosts Lourdes in a 7 p.m. first serve.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
PFW vs Maryville (Men's Volleyball)
Tuesday, March 11
PFW vs Thomas More (Mens Volleyball)
Friday, March 07
PFW vs Lindenwood (Mens Volleyball)
Friday, February 28
PFW vs Queens (Mens Volleyball)
Thursday, February 13
