Women's volleyball looks to maintain hot streak

The women's volleyball team is hot.

After finishing a strong second in the Juniata ASICS Collegiate Invitational last weekend, Princeton will take the heat on the road, as the Tigers travel to face a familiar foe, Manhattan College, tonight.

Princeton— now 9-4 on the season — has already played the Jaspers once this year at the St. John's Invitational in early September. The Tigers fell to Manhattan, 1-3, in what was only their second match of the season.

"We played awfully against Manhattan in the St. John's tourney, and we know we can do better," senior co-captain Sabrina King said. "So we're looking forward to meeting up with them again for some good, clean revenge."

And Manhattan better watch out. The Tigers are fired up from their weekend success and will use that fire to try to settle the score tonight. Princeton will look to senior middle Emily Brown and sophomores Abby Studer and Syl-vana Soto-Ward, all on a blocking streak after Saturday's wins, to shut down the Jasper offense and dominate at the net. And, with hitters King, Michelle Buffum and Kellie Cramm bringing on the heat from the outside, Princeton's offense will be hard to stop.

'Rock stars'

"The outsides are all en fuego right now," junior setter Ana Yoerg said. "If they play like the rock stars they are, no one can stop them."

Yoerg — temporarily out due to a finger injury — will be replaced by freshman Marissa Becker, who will set the pace for the Tiger offense. With the help of consistent passing from defensive specialists Martha Moore, Anne Ziegler, McCoy Klink and Kerry Song, Princeton should have no problem.

"We are a more dynamic team now," King said. "So if we just play together and put out tonight, there is no doubt that we will be victorious."

Tonight marks the last non-league match the Tigers will play before entering into Ivy competition. Princeton opens with league games next weekend at Harvard and Dartmouth.