Six Highlanders Earn EIVA All-Conference Honors

Six Highlanders were recognized to the 2020 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) All-Conference team, headed by Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year Alvaro Gimeno and Freshman of the Year Julian Meissner the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.

The postseason EIVA teams are determined by a vote by the eight head coaches.

Gimeno was selected 2020 Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year and named to the first-team.

Meissner tabbed 2020 Freshman of the Year and was named to the second-team.

In addition to Gimeno, senior Luca Berger earned first-team honors while junior Roque Nido joined Meissner on the second-team.

Jens Feldthus and Martin de Chavarria earned Honorable Mention honors.

Alvaro Gimeno | 2020 Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year; EIVA First-Team
Gimeno, the 6-foot-9 outside hitter, led the Highlanders in three categories -- kills (174; 3.62kps; 20th in the nation), service aces (25; 0.52aps; 9th in nation) and digs (74; 1.54dps). 

His .353 hitting percentage ranked 23rd in the nation. He reached double-digit kills in 12 out of 14 matches this season, including a career-best 26 kills at Geoge Mason (2.21).  The 26 kills ranks tied for second in the nation in a four-set match. 

Gimeno posted four service aces in a pair of matches (at Lindenwood (1.18); at George Mason (2.21), season-best eight digs in three matches and six total blocks (all assists) at McKendree (1.17).  

He was selected EIVA Defensive Player of the Week (2.24).
 

Julian Meissner | 2020 Freshman of the Year; EIVA Second-Team
Meissner appeared in 14 matches in his first season at NJIT, ranking second on the team in kills (134; 2.98kps). He combined for 53 digs, 40 total blocks and 12 service aces.

The 6-foot-7 opposite registered seven double-digit kill matches, including career-best 16 kills vs. Ball State (1.25).  He posted a .583 hitting percentage in the Highlanders 3-0 win over Sacred Heart (15-1-24), eight digs at Lindenwood (1.18) and personal-best seven total blocks vs. USC (1.11).

 

Luca Berger | EIVA First-Team
A three-year member of the NJIT men's volleyball program, Berger played one season at Coker College (2016-17) before transferring to NJIT in 2017-18. 

Berger, from Goiania, Brazil, is a three-time EIVA first-team and All-Academic team honoree. The 6-foot-10 middle blocker ranked second in the nation in blocks per set (1.39) and tied for first in the EIVA. 

This season, Berger combined for an impressive hitting percentage (.448) with 59 kills on 105 attempts with just 12 errors.  He notched 61 total blocks (55 block assists; 6 solo), including a career-high 11 blocks against USC on January 11, 2020. 

He was selected EIVA Defensive Player of the Week (1.13) and concluded his career, compiling 444 kills and 327 total blocks.
 

Roque Nido | EIVA Second-Team
The Highlanders starting setter led the NJIT offense with 467 assists (9.73aps; 16th in the nation) while recording 66 digs (1.38dps) and 22 blocks (0.46bps). 

Nido posted double-digit assists in all 14 matches, including a career-best 48 at McKendree (1.17), including two double-doubles (38a, 10d at McKendree (1.17); 31a, 11d vs. Princeton (2.7). 

He posted a career-high five aces vs. Princeton (2.7). 

This season, Nido was selected OffTheBlock National Setter of the Week (1.27), EIVA Offensive Player of the Week (1.27) and AVCA National Player of the Week (1.28) after averaging 11.50aps in a pair of 3-0 sweeps for NJIT, upsetting No. 11 Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (Jan. 23) and Ball State (Jan. 25).  As a team, the Highlanders hit an impressive .438 for the week.
 

Jens Feldthus | EIVA Honorable Mention
The 6-foot-3 outside hitter combined for 125 kills (2.60kps), which ranked third on the team, 56 digs (1.17dps) and 13 service aces. .

His .341 hitting percentage ranked 29th in the nation. He combined for eight double-digit matches with a career-best 14 kills vs. Ball State (1.25). 

Feldthus hit an impressive .600 vs. No. 11 Purdue Fort Wayne (1.23) and notched a personal-best 12 digs at McKendree (1.17).
 

Martin de Chavarria | EIVA Honorable Mention
In his first season at NJIT, de Chavarria registered 63 kills and 44 total blocks while combining for a .400 hitting percentage. 

He posted a career-high nine kills at McKendree (1.17), personal-best six digs vs. St. Francis Brooklyn (2.1) and career-high seven total blocks  (one solo, six assists) at Lindenwood (1.18).