M. volleyball prepares for three away games over break

Men's volleyball is scheduled to play three away games over the break, one of which is against division rival George Mason (10-3). The last time Princeton (8-9) faced the Patriots was at Dillon on Feb. 16.

The Tigers were swept 3-0 during the first meeting, failing to mount a serious challenge in the first two games. In the third game, Princeton lost 31-29, almost managing to avoid the sweep.

Last season, the Patriots finished third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tait division behind Penn State and Concordia, respectively.

The Tigers finished sixth in the Tait division in 2001, which was good enough for the final playoff spot. Despite injuries to two starters, Princeton remains optimistic about how the division race is shaping up thus far.

"With a 3-4 record after playing each [conference] team once, it looks like we'll make the playoffs (top six of eight qualify), but we'll probably have to play on the road in the first round," senior middle hitter Scott Dore said.

"We've only played half of our league games and anything can still happen in our league. But realistically, it looks as though Penn State, George Mason, Concordia, and Rutgers will take the top four spots in the EIVA tournament."

When the Tigers travel to Fairfax, Va., on March 19 to take on George Mason, emotions will be running high.

The teams have a history dating back to last season's EIVA tournament. The Patriots defeated Princeton 3-0 in the opening round, ending the Tigers' season.

For Princeton to have any success against George Mason the second time around they will have to find a way to stop James Claney.

Claney, a 6-foot, 6-inch junior middle blocker, was selected the EIVA Division I Player of the Week for the week of Mar. 11 after leading the Patriots to nine straight victories. He averaged 3.88 kills and 1.00 blocks per game, while attacking for a .569 percentage over eight games against IPFW and No. 8 Ball State. Claney was instrumental in George Mason's 3-1 upset of Ball State, the school's first win against a ranked opponent this season.

Arguably, the Patriots are one of the hottest teams in the country right now. The Tigers will also square off against St. Francis in another rematch from early in the year.

Princeton breezed past the Red Flash 3-0 last month, snapping their six-game winning streak. The Tigers will be looking to do the same thing on Friday.

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St. Francis is a member of the EIVA Hay division so the game will have no direct bearing on the playoff situation.

Nevertheless, the Tigers will not be taking this game lightly as they look to build momentum heading into the final leg of the season.

On Saturday, Princeton will battle Mercyhurst College (3-13) in Loretto, Pa.

The Tigers should defeat the cellar dwelling Lakers, a team that sits at an abysmal 1-8 in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA).

Princeton did not play Mercyhurst last season, and this will be the teams' first meeting this year. The Lakers lost to the Red Flash 3-2 in January.

The Tigers return home on March 29 to take on Juniata.