NJIT Sweeps Purdue Fort Wayne in Season Opener, Negri Leads Match with 14 Kills

Published: Saturday, January 7, 2023

Visiting NJIT swept Purdue Fort Wayne, 3-0, in the season opener for the Highlanders behind a match-best 14 kills from sophomore Alessandro Negri Saturday evening in men's volleyball non-conference action inside Gates Sports Center.

VIDEO: NJIT Highlights

NJIT, receiving votes in the Preseason AVCA/NVA Coaches Poll, won in straight sets 25-21, 25-18 and 25-23 to pick up its first win of the 2023 season. Purdue Fort Wayne moves to 1-1 on the young season.

In the 19th meeting all-time between the two schools, NJIT has won the last three meetings.

Negri, a 2022 Freshman All-American Outside Hitter by OffTheBlock, finished the match with 14 kills on 23 attempts with just three errors for a .478 hitting percentage. Senior Julian Meissner combined for 10 kills and a .368 hitting percentage. Middle Carson Williams recorded five kills on six attempts in the win.

Setter Roque Nido piled up 33 assists while Negri led NJIT defensively with five digs followed by libero Antonio Feliciano with four.

Middle blocker Martin de Chavarria shared match-high honors with four total digs while Negri added three blocks (all assists).

The Highlanders held a big advantage in the service ace category, 7-2, paced by Negri's match-best four aces.

Mark Fraizer led Purdue Fort Wayne with 12 kills while Sergio Carrillo added 25 assists and four digs. Noah Melendez paced the match with six digs.

NJIT led early 8-4 in the first set but Purdue Fort Wayne scored six straight points for a 10-8 lead, resulting in a Highlander timeout. NJIT used a 6-1 spurt midway through the frame, regaining the lead 15-13 capped by a kill from Jens Feldthus. The set saw two more ties as the Highlanders finished off the set on a 4-1 run to secure a 25-21 victory to take the first set. Julian Meissner led NJIT with six kills on a .667 hitting percentage, including a .474 team hitting percentage.

PFW scored the first three points of the second set and took a 6-3 lead. NJIT scored four straight points and took its first lead of the set, 7-6. Both teams traded points through the early teens as the Highlanders used a quick 3-1 run for a 15-12 advantage, resulting in a Mastodon timeout. NJIT held at least a three-point advantage and closed out the frame on a 6-3 spurt for a 25-18 victory and going ahead, 2-0.

Neither team led by more than two points midway through the third set until NJIT broke a 13-13 tie and scored the next three points to take a 16-13 advantage. NJIT maintained at least a one point lead until 21-20 when the Highlanders scored four straight points for a 24-21 lead, resulting in a timeout for PFW. The Mastodons scored three consecutive points, pulling within one, 24-23, but NJIT's Negri put down his 14th kill of the match to secure the Highlanders first win of the season with a 25-23 victory.

NJIT will remain on the road and visit McKendree Jan. 10 and Lindenwood Jan. 11. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. (CT).