The Ivy League opener could not have come at a better time for women's volleyball, as the team rode a six-match winning streak into Philadel-phia to take on Penn Friday night. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the defending conference champion Quakers had their own agenda.
Boasting a seven-match winning streak of its own, Penn (9-3 overall, 1-0 Ivy League) posted a 3-1 (26-30, 30-24, 30-18, 30-22) victory over Princeton (7-2, 0-1) at the Palestra.
Showcasing the level of play that had spawned their winning streak, the Tigers started strong, winning the first game 30-26. Princeton converted on 18 of 51 kill attempts — its highest percentage of the night — and briefly put a chink in the Quakers' championship armor.
The Tigers' run would not last long. Penn bounced back to win the next three games — and the match — while turning the hitting percentage back in its favor. The hosts cashed in on 38 percent of their attacks, as they took back the lead in the second and third games, while the Tigers were successful on only about 15 percent of their kill attempts.
A sloppy fourth game brought match-lows in kills, total attacks and percentage for both teams and a match-high in errors for Princeton as the Quakers sealed the victory.
Junior outside hitter Kellie Cramm again led the offense for Princeton, scoring a team-high 16 kills. Senior middle blocker Abby Studer was close behind with 15 kills, and senior outside hitter Michelle Buffum chipped in 14.
Freshman setter Jenny Senske again led the way in assists with 49. Cramm led the team with 21 digs, backed by 19 from junior libero Kerry Song and 12 from sophomore outside hitter Ashley Weber.
What was called a rebuilding year for Penn after three stars graduated last season has started off on the right foot. The Quakers, now winners of eight straight, benefited from solid performances all around.
Junior outside hitter Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan led Penn with 18 kills on 41 attempts. Senior outside hitter Stacey Carter added 15 kills on 39 tries.
Middle hitters junior Heather Janssen and freshman Michelle Kauffman added 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Junior setter Meghan Schloat had a match-high 64 assists, and Carter and freshman outside hitter Cara Thomason tied for a team-high 15 digs.
Saturday, the Tigers returned to Dillon Gym for a non-conference date with St. Francis.
Princeton dominated the first game of the match on the way to a 3-1 (30-11, 30-20, 22-30, 30-21) victory over the fledgling Terriers (3-16).
Princeton got back to their winning ways by keeping St. Francis off balance the entire match and destroying whatever momentum the Terriers may have had with a convincing first-game win.
Every Tiger saw playing time throughout the course of the match as Princeton got its seventh win in eight contests.
Cramm once again led the team in kills with 12, while teammates Weber (11 kills) and Studer (10) were right behind her.
Senske had a team-high 42 assists and Song racked up nine digs.
St. Francis was the last non-Ivy opponent for the Tigers this season, and coach Glenn Nelson and his crew can now turn their full attention to the 14 remaining conference games.
Princeton takes its show on the road for the next two weekends, traveling to Cornell and Columbia Oct. 11 and 12, then on to Brown and Yale Oct. 18 and 19.
After the four-match road trip, the Tigers will play seven of their final 10 in Dillon Gym, including a three-match homestand against Yale, Brown and Penn to close out the season.
"We discovered something about our offense [against St. Francis]," Nelson said, "and we discovered something about our defense against Penn. We're very optimistic about going up against Cornell and Columbia."
(Daniel Satterfield contributed to this story.)
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