​NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT men's volleyball team picked its first win of the 2025 season, sweeping visiting Roberts Wesleyan, 3-0, in non-conference men's volleyball action Friday afternoon inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

The Highlanders hit an impressive .507 for the match, winning in straight sets 25-14, 25-16 and 25-21.

Leading the way for NJIT was freshman Wiktor Nowak and Braeden Goebbert each notching  10 kills apiece.  Nowak combined for a .667 hitting percentage on 10 kills and 15 swings while Goebbert recorded 10 kills on 15 attempts with two errors for a .533 hitting percentage.

Senior Alessandro Negri registered eight kills on 13 swings with just one error for a .538 hitting percentage while Josh Gregg, who played one set hit a perfect 1.000 with four kills on four attempts.  Antonio Feliciano added five kills on nine attempts with one error for a .444 hitting percentage for the match.

Freshman Bruno Figueiredo piled up 28 assists and added three digs for NJIT while Gil Zyndorf recorded 13 sets in one set played.

Nowak led the Highlanders with eight digs followed by Negri (6), libero Diego Lopez (5).  In front of the net Goebbert posted five block assists.

NJIT took an early advantage in the first frame, 9-3, resulting in a Roberts Wesleyan timeout.  The Highlanders extended its lead to as many as eight, 17-9, behind a 4-1 run and capped by a kill by Alessandro Negri.  NJIT cruised to a 25-14 win in the first frame, closing out the set on a 7-3 spurt.

Both teams traded points to begin the second set and the Highlanders used a short 4-1 run for a 12-8 advantage on an attack error by the visitors. The home team went on a 10-3 run (7-1 in the final eight points) to go ahead 2-0 with a 25-16 victory.

The third frame saw six ties early in the set the final at 8-8 when the Highlanders scored four consecutive points for a 12-8 advantage.  Roberts Wesleyan scored two straight to pull within one, 12-11, but NJIT went on a 3-0 run to push its lead to as many as four, 15-11, resulting in a visitors timeout.  Roberts Wesleyan rallied its way back into the set, cutting the deficit to one, 16-15, behind a 4-1 run but NJIT pushed its lead to four, 21-18, on a pair of kills by Josh Gregg.  The Highlanders finished on a quick 2-1 run to end the set, capped by a kill from Harrison Girard to secure the first win of the season with a 25-21 victory.

NJIT, in a stretch of five matches at home, will return to action next weekend Friday, January 24 (vs. Queens (NC); 6pm) and Saturday, January 25 (Saint Francis U; 7pm) inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.