Match Stats
- NJIT def. Princeton 3-0 (25-16, 29-27, 25-22)
- NJIT moves to 9-7 (4-3 EIVA); Princeton falls to 8-8 (6-3 EIVA)
- Fleisher Athletic Center, Newark, New Jersey
- Attendance: 288
- Box Score
NJIT kept the EIVA interesting by upsetting league co-leaders Princeton on Friday 3-0 in Newark. NJIT started off the game huge with a .556 hitting percentage in the first set, but while their offense lagged later in the game, they had enough defense and especially serving to pull out the win anyway.
NJIT had 10 aces in the game, including 4 from Jabarry Goodridge. 5 of those aces came in serves at Princeton’s libero Corry Short, who had his worst service receipt game of the season.
Goodridge also had 20 kills for 24 total points in the game – which moves him into 2nd place nationally with 5.15 points-per-set this season. This is the 6th time this season that Goodridge has gone over 20 points, and the first time he’s done so in a 3-setter.
Princeton fought back after struggling in the first set for more competitive outocmes in the 2nd and 3rd frames, but without any players in double-figure kills, the Tigers just didn’t have enough firepower to overcome Goodridge’s outburst.
After the defeat, Princeton fell 1 game back of idle Penn State (6-2) and Sacred Heart (5-2) in the conference loss column.
Videos
Press Releases
Courtesy NJIT Athletics:
NEWARK, NJ—The NJIT men’s volleyball team won its second straight match, led by senior outside hitter Jabarry Goodridge’s match-best 20 kills in the Highlanders 3-0 sweep against visiting Princeton in Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association action Friday night at the Fleisher Athletic Center.
The Highlanders winners of its last four-out-of-five matches, swept the Tigers 25-15, 29-27 and 25-22, improving to 4-3 in the EIVA, 9-7 overall while Princeton moves to 6-3 in the EIVA and 8-8 overall.
In the first meeting of the season at Princeton, the Tigers topped NJIT, 3-1, 25-23, 32-34, 25-21, 25-16.
Goodridge led the match with 20 kills on 30 swings and just four errors for a .533 hitting percentage. His four service aces were a match-high as the Highlanders held a 10-to-1 advantage in that category.
Setter Ricardo Whitaker piled up a match-best 30 assists to go along with five digs.
In front of the net, Raymond Kowalski combined for six block assists, four digs and eight kills while middles Luke Robbe and Luke Allmond each notched four block assists.
Princeton’s George Huhmann led the way for the visitors with nine kills followed by Parker Dixon with eight. Setter Jonah posted 24 assists as libero Corry Short, who played in two sets, recorded a match-best seven digs.
In the first frame, NJIT hit an impressive .556 and took control early with a 5-0 lead. The Highlanders kept the pressure on, pushing its lead to 17-11 and later 21-13. NJIT closed out the frame on a 3-1 spurt, taking the first set, 25-16.
The second set, which saw six ties and five lead changes, saw the Highlanders rally back down four (19-23), scoring five straight points, to go ahead, 24-23. The set saw four more ties, the final at 27 after a kill by Goodridge. The senior followed up with his second consecutive kill for a one-point lead, 28-27, and Brad Thele’s lone ace of the match secured the 29-27 victory, giving the Highlanders a 2-0 advantage.
In the final frame, which was played close throughout, the Highlanders found themselves down by six (9-15) and later (10-17). NJIT went on a 5-1 run slimming the Tiger lead to three, 15-18, resulting in a Princeton timeout. After a point by the Tigers, the home team used another 5-1 run, knotting the set at 20 all. The set saw one more tie at 21 all, as the Highlanders closed out the set on a 4-1 spurt, sweeping Princeton, 3-0, with a 25-22 victory.
NJIT will break for Spring Break and visit Coker on March 14 at 6pm followed by Belmont Abbey on March 15.
Courtesy Princeton Athletics:
Freshman middle George Huhmann had nine kills and four blocks — both team highs — but the Princeton men’s volleyball team could not hold off NJIT rallies over the final two sets and dropped a 3-0 EIVA match in Newark Friday night.
Princeton got strong performances from its top three freshmen, including an eight-kill effort from Parker Dixon and a .444 hitting performance from Greg Luck, but Jabarry Goodridge poured in 20 kills for the Highlanders, who used late runs in the second and third sets to pull out a 25-16, 29-27, 25-22 victory.
Senior Jonah May had 24 assists for the Tigers, while both Luck and Kendall Ratter added three digs apiece. Middle Junior Oboh added three kills and three blocks for the Tigers, who return to Dillon Gym Saturday night to take on Coker College at 7 pm.
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