Men's Volleyball Sweeps No. 19 Penn State in EIVA Action

Published: Monday, February 24, 2025
The last time NJIT defeated Penn State dates back to February 14, 2021, in University Park.

The NJIT men's volleyball team swept No. 19 Penn State in EIVA Conference men's volleyball action Friday evening inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

The Highlanders, which moved back into the win column, swept the Nittany Lions, 3-0, 25-21, 29-27 and 25-22.

NJIT improved to 7-3 overall, 2-1 in the EIVA while Penn State dropped to 3-8 overall, 1-2 in the EIVA. The last time NJIT defeated Penn State dates back to February 14, 2021, in University Park. The Highlanders now have two wins over two top-20 teams in 2025 (No. 20 George Mason & No. 19 Penn State).

The Highlanders, which hit .380 for the match (.571 in the third set), was led by Antonio Feliciano with 13 kills followed by Wiktor Nowak with 10 kills. Middle Andrew Fedmasu combined for eight kills on 11 attempts for a .545 hitting percentage with just two errors.

Setter Bruno Figueiredo combined for 38 assists and six digs. Alessandro Negri added seven kills and posted three service aces as the Highlanders held an 8-to-3 advantage in that category.

In the first set, NJIT took an early 8-4 lead, resulting in a Penn State timeout. NJIT maintained at least a five-point lead until the Nittany Lions went on a 5-1 spurt to pullin within two, 23-21, resulting in a Highlander timeout. NJIT scored the final two points, including an ace by Wiktor Nowak to take the first set 25-21.

Both teams went back and forth to start the second frame with NJIT using a 5-1 run to give the Highlanders a 12-9 advantage on a Nittany Lions attacking error. Throughout the late teens, NJIT led by as many as three until Penn State knotted the match at 16-all behind a 4-1 run. Neither team led by more than two the rest of the way as we went into extra points with NJIT scoring the final two points on a kill from Andrew Fedmasu and a solo block by Wiktor Nowak to go up 2-0 with a 29-27 win.

Penn State took control of the third frame, taking a 11-5 lead. NJIT responded and made its way back into the set, slimming the Nittany Lion lead to two, 14-12, on a kill by Antonio Feliciano, resulting in a Penn State timeout. The Nittany Lions extended its lead to as many as four, 21-17, but the Highlanders closed the gap to within one, 21-20, and knotted the match at 22-all on a kill by Josh Gregg resulting in the Nittany Lions second timeout out of the match. NJIT closed out the frame scoring the final five points for a 25-21 victory and securing the home sweep over No. 19 Penn State, 3-0.