Feb. 6, 2007

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - The New Jersey Institute of Technology men's volleyball team extended its season-opening winning streak to five straight matches, taking a 3-0 decision Tuesday night at Rutgers-Newark.

Three wins have come in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Hay Division. Tuesday's win at Rutgers-Newark marked the first win of the season for NJIT over a team from the EIVA Tait Division.

The Highlanders swept, 30-27, 30-28 and 31-29 to remain unbeaten in the 2007 season. Rutgers-Newark falls to is 2-5 overall.

The win by NJIT was its first in the Golden Dome gym against Rutgers-Newark since February 11, 2000, when the Highlanders rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win, 3-2.

Until Tuesday, that was also the last win for the Highlanders over their neighbors from down the hill. Rutgers-Newark won the return match later in 2000 and the teams have met sporadically in years since.

Freshman Charles Bell led the Highlanders' attack with 14kills, while Amobi Armstrong followed behind with 13. Greg Wagner was NJIT's most efficient attacker, registering 10 kills on 17 of his attempts with just one error for a 5.29 attack percentage in the match. Outside hitter Leonardo Paludo notched 12 kills. Sophomore Rodrigo Correa posted a game-high 47 assists.

On the defense of end, Eduardo Welter and Paludo paced the Highlanders with six digs apiece.

For Rutgers-Newark, Eric Honsberger posted a match-high 20 kills and five digs. Sophomore Mark Hulse tallied 35 assists and a team-high 10 digs.

The Highlanders return to action Wednesday night when they travel to Vassar for a 7 pm non-conference tilt in Poughkeepsie, NY.