Men's Volleyball Falls to #20 NJIT, 3-2

Saturday, March 21

Princeton, N.J.

4:00 PM

Princeton University

NJIT

March 21, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton University men's volleyball team resumed Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) play Saturday inside Jadwin Gymnasium, falling 3-2 (23-25, 14-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-7) to #20 NJIT.

Andrew Werner compiled a career-high 19 kills on a .371 hitting percentage, while Owen Mellon added 12 kills along with a match-high four service aces. Nolan Kelly recorded a double-double with a team-high 40 assists, a match-high 11 digs and a match-high five blocks.

Led by a Werner block, the Tigers opened the first set with a 3-0 run. Shortly after, a kill by Tristan Whitfield ignited a 4-0 run that propelled Princeton in front, 9-4. While the Highlanders narrowed the deficit to two at 12-10, a kill by Werner followed by a pair of Wells kill saw the Tigers surge ahead, 15-10. NJIT would battle back and tie it up at 20-20, but the Tigers would pull away for the 25-23 first set victory.

Princeton got off to a fast start in the second set; a kill by Mellon keyed a 5-0 run that gave the Tigers a 7-2 advantage. A kill by Werner put Princeton up seven, 12-5, and the momentum stayed with Princeton. With the Tigers leading 20-14, a service error by NJIT led a 5-0 run on which Princeton closed the set out on. Set point came on a kill by Werner as the Tigers secured the double figure win, 25-14.

The third set saw the Highlanders open with a 3-0 run and gain an early advantage. With the score 12-9 in NJIT's favor, the Highlanders used a 4-0 run to jump ahead, 16-9. NJIT went to earn win its first set of the match, 25-16.

Set number four was a back-and-forth battle. The Highlanders edged ahead, 20-18, but a kill by Ryan Vena led a 3-0 run that put the Tigers ahead, 21-10. NJIT responded with a 3-0 run and went on to tie the match at 2-2 with a 25-23 triumph in the fourth set.

A 6-0 run by the Highlanders early in the fifth set put NJIT ahead 8-2. A 3-0 Princeton run made it 10-6, but the Highlanders pulled away for the 15-7 fifth set victory.

Up Next
The Tigers host Charleston (11-9, 3-3) inside Dillon Gymnasium at 7 p.m. on Mar. 27.