Women's volleyball looks to earn NCAA bid with win over Harvard

On Nov. 20, the women’s volleyball team (15-8 overall, 10-4 Ivy League) will travel to Boston to play a deciding match against rival Harvard (14-10, 10-4). The outcome will determine qualifications for the NCAA tournament between the two Ivy conference champions.

After winning two back-to-back games last week against Cornell and Columbia, Princeton has become the first team to win the Ivy League conference after opening the season with a three-game losing streak. In what can only be described as a remarkable comeback, Princeton won its last seven games of the season to tie Harvard for the top spot in the Ancient Eight, bringing a 15th Ivy League Championship to Dillon Gymnasium.

As the Tigers prepare for their match-up against the Crimson, they will be looking to play their usual composed and focused style, keeping many of the strategies that have led to such a phenomenal second half of the season. With a seven-game win streak under their belt, the Orange and Black are looking to keep the same energy and momentum as they head to Boston.

“We are not changing too much,” senior right-side hitter Kendall Peterkin said. “In practice today and the last couple days we focused on Harvard, but we also know in the back of our minds that we have to focus on what we are doing. Don’t change up too much because whatever we are doing now is working.”

Harvard swept the Tigers in three sets as part of Princeton’s three-game losing streak at the start of the season. However, Princeton returned the favor at home in their second encounter with the Crimson, sweeping it at Dillon. While Harvard will have a home field advantage, the Tigers have much to be confident about as they enter the stadium Friday, a confidence that can only come from finishing the second half of the season undefeated.

“Harvard is a very good team, but they are definitely beatable,” Peterkin said. “They are going to get their points. They are going to get their runs. We might even lose some sets. It is going to be a battle, but by no means are we going to back down at any point. I think coming into this weekend we are the stronger team in terms of physicality and mentality.”

While Princeton has claimed the top spot on the Ivy League table, the season has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. After being down 0-3, the Tigers initially felt they were out of contention and started playing for themselves rather than championship aspirations. The Tigers started focusing more on their game and improving their chemistry as a team. This change in mentality was all the Princeton squad needed as it soon proved itself a near unstoppable force. Indeed, the Tigers conceded only one match after opening the season 0-3.

“This season has been by far the best,” Peterkin said. “Crazy for sure, the most crazy I had, but also the best. Also, I think for us four seniors we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. If we had to win some time definitely going out with a win our senior year is awesome.”

This season has truly been a special one for the Tigers. The last time Princeton won the Ivy League title and qualified for the NCAA Championship was 2007. Yale had been the reigning champion for the last five years before Princeton and Harvard shared the title this year. Regardless of the outcome of Friday’s game, the 2015 season has proven to be a memorable one.

As both teams make their final preparations, fans and supporters should make their preparations for what should be a riveting and unpredictable match. With NCAA qualifications and Ivy League pride at stake, Friday’s game could be the highlight of the season.