What happens to a deer when it gets caught in headlights? It freezes in its tracks. And, what happens when the car heading towards it doesn't stop? Well, it isn't pretty. Just ask the men's volleyball team, after they were crushed by league-rival New Jersey Institute of Technology, 3-0, Tuesday night. What's worse is that NJIT (4-18 overall, 2-12 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tait Division) was not exactly the Mack truck of the league. Going into the match with only one EIVA win this season, NJIT was more of a Volkswagon Beetle than an 18-wheeler. But the Highlanders still managed to run Princeton off the road in three games, 31-29, 30-25, 30-25.
Having swept NJIT earlier in the season, 3-0, the Tigers entered Tuesday's match confident that they would again walk off with the victory. From the start, however, NJIT was geared up for the win and caught Princeton off guard.
"NJIT deserves a lot of credit," junior middle Scott Dore said. "They saw an opportunity and they took advantage of it. The weaker teams always seem fired up and ready to play us. I thought that NJIT was one of those teams that you can beat no matter how badly you played, but we proved that assumption wrong."
With the score close in the first game, the Tigers had a chance to win it at 29-29, but the Highlanders managed to earn the last two points for the win. Princeton returned in game two to take a three-point lead early, only to falter midway through and find itself unable to regain control of the game. By the third game, NJIT had the momentum it needed and it jumped out to a 13-5 advantage, a lead which ultimately carried it to victory in the match.
Blocking proved to be NJIT's key to success, as the Highlanders outblocked the Tigers, 17-5. The consistent NJIT block effectively shut out the Princeton attack, which struggled to hit the ball past the solid frontline. Dore led the Tiger offense from the middle with nine kills and a .363 hitting average, while freshman setter Jason Liljestrom added 35 assists in the loss.
On defense, Princeton lacked the consistency necessary to convert on its plays. Failing to stop NJIT's attack at the net, the weak Tiger block made it difficult for Princeton defenders to cover the deepcourt. Senior opposite Kevin Roche led the defensive effort for the Tigers, recording eight digs for the match.
"We've played flat since Spring Break," Dore said. "And that's not going to win games in the league that we're in — not even against the weaker teams.
"When we make mistakes, we seem to dwell on them rather than look ahead to the next play," he continued. "The 'deer in the headlights' look sums up how we played [Tuesday night]."
The win was NJIT's second EIVA victory this season, its fourth overall, giving it the boost it needed to avoid last place in the league. Princeton remains sixth in the EIVA Tait Division, with no chance of moving up in the ranks before the playoffs.
Last night, the Tigers faced Concordia (1-8, 11-2), one of the top three teams in the league, and though they came up short, they turned in a considerably better showing. Princeton dropped the first two games, 30-26, and 30-25, respectively — close games against a tough team. In the final game, the Tigers played even tougher, pushing Concordia to a 31-29 score but losing.
Senior captain and outside hitter Steve Cooper led the Tigers with nine digs, while sophomore Dennis Alshuler racked up 10 kills. Liljestrom again led the team in assists with 29 assists.
Princeton is now looking ahead to this weekend, when it will host Penn State Saturday at Dillon Gym. According to the most recent USA Today Coaches' Poll, the Nittany Lions are No. 12 in the nation and are the toughest team the Tigers will face all season. Earlier in the year, Penn State swept Princeton in three games, as it overpowered the Tigers both offensively and defensively.
Saturday's match-up will be the last league game and last home game for three Princeton seniors — captain and outside hitter Steve Cooper, middle Ryan Black, and opposite Kevin Roche. The Tigers will then move on to the first round of EIVA playoff action next Tuesday, when they will travel to Fairfax, Va. to face George Mason. Having already lost twice to the Patriots during league play, Princeton will need to step up its level of intensity if it hopes to move on in the playoffs.
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