HOBOKEN, N.J. - Sophomore outside hitter Brian Woodworth (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) had 19 kills and freshman outside hitter Chris Bock (Orlando, Fla./University) had 13 kills and 18 digs as the 11th-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology men's volleyball team earned an impressive 3-1 victory over Division II NJIT on Wednesday at the Canavan Arena.
Stevens, ranked 11th in the latest AVCA Division III Coaches Poll, won its fourth straight match to improve to 4-5. The Ducks won by game scores of 30-26, 28-30, 30-19, 30-28. The win was the first-ever for Stevens over the Division II NJIT.
Stevens was in control from the outset. After picking up a kill on the opening point, Bock then served three straight points to give the Ducks a 4-0 lead in the first game. Stevens, which hit an impressive .405 in the opening game, extended its lead to 7-1. NJIT got as close as 26-24, but Woodworth and Bock had two kills each to secure the opening game.
With a 26-24 lead in the second game, the Ducks appeared to be on their way to a big lead, but the Highlanders scored five straight points with three coming on Stevens attack errors. Senior middle hitter Scott Mooney (Glendora, Calif./Glendora) and Woodworth had consecutive kills to pull the Ducks within 29-28, but senior outside hitter Ron Horn put the game away with one of his match-leading 30 kills.
NJIT stumbled in the third game with an attack percentage of -.125 (8 kills, 12 errors, 32 attempts). Stevens took advantage of the miscues in an easy 30-19 win.
Stevens led by as many as four points in the fourth game before NJIT drew even at 25-25. With the score tied at 28-28, sophomore middle hitter Matt Thorkildsen committed an untimely service error for the Highlanders, giving the Ducks a one-point lead. Stevens then put the match away as freshman middle hitter Greg Higgins (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West) recorded one of his team-leading four service aces.
Higgins (seven digs) and Mooney (two blocks) added eight kills each for Stevens. The Ducks return to action on Sunday, February 2, when they host the 10-team Stevens Invitational beginning at 9 a.m.
