M. volleyball hosts three EIVA opponents

When you watch the men's volleyball team in a home match, you see a confident, solid group. The confines of Dillon Gym make the Tigers capable of stretching even the most worthy opponent to five games. A boisterous home crowd has helped the team to several dramatic victories in Dillon this season, including a pair of five-game nail biters against rivals Rutgers-Newark and Springfield.

That crowd will again be needed as Princeton (10-6 overall, 4-4 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) plays host to St. Francis (10-14, 2-8), Penn State (13-6, 6-0), and Juniata (11-4, 5-3) this weekend.

On the road, however, it has been a tale of woe for the talented Tigers. Inconsistent hitting and shaky passing have held the Tigers back in foreign gyms, and the season has been marred with collapses in important road games.

Most recently, the Tigers fell, 3-1, to an inferior team from George Mason. Princeton had swept the Patriots in three straight games at home in late February, when the smaller visitors were dominated by the tall and athletic Tiger hitters. While Princeton should not have had a problem executing its victory formula a second time around, the match turned into a struggle that ended in a Patriot victory.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, George Mason is the closest of several competitors chasing the team for fourth place in the EIVA's Tait Division. The win allowed the Patriots to gain ground in the standings that will dictate home court advantage for the playoffs.

Princeton must put these memories aside, as it will host the cream of the crop in the EIVA — first-place Penn State and second-place Juniata. Both teams will pose a challenge for the Tigers. Luckily, the matches will be played on back-to-back afternoons on Saturday and Sunday in Dillon Gym. If the team's past success in Dillon is any indication, the Tigers chances of upsetting the league frontrunners will take a turn upward in the home court advantage.

Princeton will get a chance to tune up for its big games on Friday night when they host mediocre St. Francis. The Tiger fans will certainly show their appreciation for the socially prime starting time of 7 p.m., and the team should be able to coast to victory.

It is on Saturday at 4 p.m., however, that the Tigers will most need their fans' support. Penn State will look to quickly squash Princeton's hopes for an upset and take the crowd out of the game. If the Tigers can manage to parry the Nittany Lions' dangerous hits and initiate their passing game, they should have at least a fighting chance of victory.

Senior setter Jason Liljestrom is fully recovered from a wrist injury that forced him to miss action earlier in the season. Junior outside hitter Ryn Burns is also at full strength after spraining his ankle in January. His versatile skills, which complement the hitting of sophomore middle hitter Brian Hamming and junior outside hitter Blake Robinson, make the Tigers a stronger team.

Sunday at 2 p.m., the competition stays tough as Princeton will face second-place Juniata. If the Tigers can earn an upset here and finish the weekend with a 2-1 record, the homestand will be deemed a success. A sweep, and Princeton will begin dreaming of a long run into the postseason.

The Tigers and their loyal fans have reason to hope for three victories: the team is undefeated at home in 2004.