Men's Volleyball Sweeps No. 11 Penn State; Alvaro Gimeno Posts Match-Best 16 Kills
Senior outside hitter Alvaro Gimeno posted a match-best 16 kills, leading visiting NJIT to a 3-0 sweep over No. 11 Penn State Sunday afternoon in EIVA Conference action inside Rec Hall.
NJIT and Penn State split the weekend EIVA series as the Nittany Lions defeated NJIT, 3-1 on Saturday while the Highlanders followed up with a dominating performance on Sunday, sweeping Penn State, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22 and 25-9).
NJIT improves to 3-3 overall, 3-1 in the EIVA while Penn State moves to 6-2 overall, 3-1 in the EIVA. The two teams sit atop of the EIVA standing with George Mason, who stands at 2-0.
In addition to Gimeno's 16 kills, the senior combined for a .652 hitting percentage to go along with four digs and one block solo. Sophomore Julian Meissner added eight kills, six service aces and five digs. The six aces for Meissner ranks tied for second in the nation in a three-set match. NJIT held an advantage in the service ace category, 10-to-2 paced by Meissner and Luca Berger with three.
Freshman setter Griffin Fieseler led the match with 31 assists and added a team-best six digs and two total blocks. Libero Joe Kennedy and Meissner added five digs.
Penn State was led by Cal Fisher's nine kills while Cole Bogner piled up 26 assists. Bogner and Michal Kowal shared match-high honors with eight digs.
In the first set, NJIT held a late 22-20 advantage after an ace by Meissner, resulting in a timeout by Penn State and the Highlanders closed out the frame on an 5-1 run, capped by a kill from Martin de Chavarria to take the set 25-21. Gimeno led the set with five kills followed by Meissner with four.
Both teams traded points throughout the second set. NJIT broke a 16-16 tie and went ahead 19-16 behind three straight points from Gimeno. Penn State scored three straight, knotting the frame at 19-all. NJIT finished off the set on a 4-2 run, securing the 25-22 victory.
NJIT's remained hot in the third set, dominating from the start, holding a 19-5 lead and cruised to a 25-9 win to register the 3-0 sweep from No. 11 Penn State.
NJIT will close out a four-game road trip next weekend when the Highlanders visit Charleston (WV) on February 19-20. Saturday's match is slated for 7pm with Sunday's contest beginning at 5pm.
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