Negri Leads NJIT with Match-Best 26 Kills in Highlanders Thrilling 3-2 Win Over Purdue Fort Wayne

Despite being down 2-0, NJIT rallied back to earn a thrilling 3-2 five set home victory over visiting Purdue Fort Wayne behind a match-best 26 kills from junior Alessandro Negri in men's volleyball non-conference action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT picks up its second straight win of the season, moving to 2-3 on the young season, while Purdue Fort Wayne suffers its first loss of the season, falling to 3-1.

The Highlanders dropped the first two sets by tight scores, 26-24 and 25-23, before cruising to a 25-14 win in the third frame after hitting .850 for the set (17k, 0e, 20a) and followed up with a 27-25 victory in the fourth set to force a fifth and deciding set.

In the fifth and deciding set, NJIT hit a perfect 1.000 with 11 kills on 11 attempts. NJIT took control with a 5-1 lead and later extended to 9-3. Purdue Fort Wayne closed the Highlander gap to within four, 10-6, but NJIT scored the last five out of six points to secure the five-set home victory.

Leading the way for NJIT was Negri with 26 kills (tying his personal-best mark) to go along with a .469 hitting percentage and 10 digs. Sophomore Andrew Fedmasu nearly hit perfect for the match, combining for 12 kills on 13 attempts with no errors for a .923 hitting percentage.

Graduate student Carson Williams added 11 kills and junior Will Migdal posted 10 for the Highlanders.

Setter Griffin Fieseler piled up a match-best 56 assists and added eight digs, three kills and two service aces. Libero Ron Tidhar and Negri paced NJIT with 10 digs.

In front of the net, Williams led the match with six total blocks (one solo, five assists). Migdal added four block assists and Negri recorded three block assists.

Purdue Fort Wayne was led by Jon Diedrich's team-best 16 kills and Mark Frazier's 14 kills. Wilmer Hernandez shared match-high honors with Tidhar and Negri, tallying 10 digs.

NJIT will return home next weekend, hosting Lindenwood Jan. 19 at 7 p.m and No. 2 Long Beach State Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.