FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots lost in a five-set heartbreaker in their first EIVA conference game 3-2 to NJIT in the RAC.
The first set was dominated by the Patriots 25-18.
Liam French and
Jack Bolz both had three kills while
Georgi Zahariev tallied eight set assists. Mason also recorded four service errors while the Highlanders had none.
The Highlanders fought back in the second erasing their deficit to bring it to 1-1 (25-16). They led with 14 kills while the Patriots were only able to create six.
In the third, the Patriots used teamwork to win the set with five different players tallying multiple kills. Five aces and two blocks were a big part of the difference as well. French had a set ending service ace to close it out (25-21).
NJIT barely won the fourth 25-23. They recorded two less service errors and only three attacking errors (Patriots had six) which proved to be the difference.
The final set went back and forth as the score was tied 11 times. Unfortunately, the Highlanders slipped by 16-14.
By the Numbers
- Liam French led the Patriots with 14 kills followed by Bolz with 12
- Lucas Little notched his season-high in blocks with 5
- French had 5 services aces while Zahariev had 4
- Mason had more service aces 10-6
- NJIT led in kills 55-49
