NJIT Comes from Behind to Upset No. 12 UC San Diego to Stay Perfect at Home
The NJIT men's volleyball team came from behind and outlasted No. 12 UC San Diego in five sets behind three Highlanders recording double-digit kills paced by Jens Feldthus, who recorded a career-best 18, upsetting the visiting Tritons at home, 3-2, Friday evening inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
With the win, NJIT moves to an even 2-2 on the young season and remains perfect at home with a 2-0 mark while UC San Diego, ranked No. 12 in the latest AVCA DI-II Coaches Poll, moves to 2-2.
Trailing 2-0, heading into the third set, NJIT recorded a 25-16 victory in the third frame, went to extra points in the fourth set, picking up the 31-29 win and secured the match with a 15-10 victory in the fifth set.
In the fifth and deciding set, NJIT jumped out to a 5-1 run resulting in a timeout by UC San Diego. The Tritons pulled within one of the Highlanders on two occasions early – 5-4 and 6-5, before NJIT scored four straight points, taking a five-point lead, 10-5, as UC San Diego took its second timeout of the set. NJIT continued to apply the pressure and closed out the set on a short 2-1 spurt, securing the upset, 15-10, in the final frame.
Feldthus, who recorded a new personal-best mark with 18 kills, finished with a .441 hitting percentage while adding eight digs.
Newcomer Alessandro Negri notched his second double-digit kill match, combining for 15 kills to go along with five dis and a match-best three aces.
Junior Julian Meissner finished with a double-double of 14 kills and 13 digs, including a match-best six total blocks (one solo, five assists).
Setter Roque Nido piled up a match-best 41 assists and added five digs while in front of the net, NJIT held a 10.5 to 6.0 advantage paced by Meissner (six total blocks) followed by Carson Williams with five block assists. Williams combined for a .583 hitting percentage with nine kills.
UC San Diego's Kyle McCauley led the match with 27 kills while Matt Palma paced the match with 15 digs.
The first set, which had nine ties and two lead changes early in the frame saw UC San Diego score seven consecutive points to extend its lead to four, 18-14, resulting in an NJIT timeout. The Tritons increased its lead to 22-17 on a Highlander attacking error but NJIT rallied back to pull within two, 24-22, resulting in a UC San Diego timeout. The Tritons scored the final point on a Highlander attacking error to take a 25-22 win.
UC San Diego jumped out to an 8-3 advantage to start the second set. After a point by NJIT, the Tritons used a 5-1 spurt to push ahead 13-6. NJIT responded back, cutting the Tritons lead to seven, 17-10, on a kill by Meissner and later to five, 20-15, on a kill by Feldthus. UC San Diego scored the final three out of five points to earn a 25-17 victory and go up 2-0.
NJIT got things going early in the third frame, jumping out to a 7-2 lead and later extended its advantage to eight, 15-7, after a kill by Meissner. UC San Diego fought back, cutting the Highlander deficit to five, 21-16, the closest the Tritons would get as NJIT scored the final three points of the set – capped by a pair of aces by Negri.
The Highlanders used a late 4-0 run in the fourth set, slimming the Triton deficit to three, 19-16, resulting in a timeout by UC San Diego. The set saw a total of 15 ties and six lead changes, the final tie at 29-all after a kill by Meissner and the Highlanders secured the 31-29 extra point victory with a kill from Jens Feldthus and Triton attacking error forcing a fifth and deciding set.
NJIT will conclude its three-game homestand on Friday, Feb. 4 hosting nearby Fairleigh Dickinson. First spike set for 6 p.m.