Even with efforts of frosh setter, w. volleyball goes 1-1 on weekend

You can't run a solid offense without a solid setter.

After the graduation last year of setter Ana Yoerg '02, the Tigers needed someone to fill her shoes.

Jenny Senske was up for the challenge.

Senske, a freshman from Long Beach, California, didn't take long to prove to the team she was ready to take on the position that controls the pace of the offense. She has been an incredible presence for the Tigers already, racking up 539 assists in 42 games for an average of 12.8 assists per game.

Her teammates agree that she has been a vital part of their success this season. "She handles pressure very well, never loses her cool," senior outside hitter Michelle Buffum said. "She has really stepped in and taken control. I've been very impressed with the way she's running the show."

Senske did not always plan on coming to Princeton, however.

"Junior year, I thought I was going to wind up at Notre Dame," she said. "But I got in touch with Coach Nelson and I met the girls on the team by September [of senior year], and they sold [Princeton] for me."

Thanks to these recruiting efforts, the volleyball team acquired this talented player who led her high school team, Mater Dei, to a 34-4 record and a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) title her senior year, earning individual First Team All-Serra League.

Now Senske is sure that she picked the right place. "My teammates were very welcoming. It was hard to come in and take the place of someone who had just graduated, but having five good players out on the court with me makes it easier."

Senske adds to Princeton far beyond the volleyball court. She recently joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority, and she participates in the Arts Alive program, in which Princeton students accompany children affected by the Sept. 11 attacks to various cultural events.

Volleyball is the activity that takes up the most of her time, but she seems to have no regrets about playing.

"The competition is exciting but not too overwhelming. And the other girls are supportive academically, emotionally, and athletically."

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Despite the best efforts of Senske and the rest of the team, volleyball had its ups and downs this weekend.

A win Saturday against Yale softened the blow of a 3-0 loss to Brown on Friday.

The Bears (7-10 overall, 3-2 Ivy League) took control of the match early and refused to cut the Tigers (9-3 overall, 3-2 Ivy League) any slack.

"After coming out with a bang for the first 12 points we eased up and they took advantage," Buffum said.

Though Senske put up 39 assists and Buffum and junior outside hitter Kellie Cramm led the team with 13 kills apiece, it wasn't enough to get Princeton going. Even four Tigers with double-digit dig statistics (junior setter Kerry Song, sophomore outside hitter Ashley Weber, Senske, and Buffum) and four Alex Brown blocks couldn't shut down a strong Bear offense. Brown won by scores of 30-28, 30-21, and 30-28.

Against the Yale Bulldogs, however, the Tigers fared much better.

Princeton essentially controlled the pace of Saturday's match, dropping only the third game to the Bulldogs (7-8 overall, 1-4 Ivy League).

A number of Tigers contributed to the victory. Freshman outside hitter Lauren Grumet led three Tigers in double-digit kills with 15, and Senske again put up big numbers with 54 assists. Abby Studer added eight blocks for the 30-23, 30-21, 26-30, 30-24 victory.

Princeton volleyball next faces Dartmouth and Harvard at home this coming weekend in more Ivy League competition.