M. volleyball prepares for year's end

Last weekend, the men's volleyball team undertook the toughest test of its 2004 season. Princeton faced three Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association opponents in as many days, including games against powers Penn State and Juniata. The Tigers (11-8 overall, 5-6 EIVA) represented themselves well, given the difficult circumstances. Princeton crushed an average St. Francis (10-15 2-9) team on Friday, then played tough games against first-place Penn State (14-6, 7-1) and third-place Juniata (12-5, 6-4) last weekend.

The Juniata game had potential to be the Tigers' biggest victory of the 2004 season, as the Eagles were second in the EIVA and had swept Princeton, 3-0, earlier in the season. On Sunday, with the advantage of the home crowd at Dillon Gym and confidence drawn from the team's 9-3 record after the first Juniata loss, the Tigers nearly took advantage of their second opportunity to upset the Eagles.

Princeton rolled to victory in the first two games behind accurate hitting and inspired defense. The loyal Princeton fans, who had spurred their team to an undefeated home record coming into this weekend's play, once again came out in full force to support their team. The Tigers put together two of the best games of volleyball the team has played all season long and carried a 2-0 advantage coming into the third game.

As always, the leading Tiger hitters were junior Blake Robinson and sophomore Brian Hamming. The two were turning the skillful sets of senior Jason Liljestrom into powerful kills that kept the Eagles back on their heels. When the match was over, Hamming had concluded the best afternoon of his young Princeton career. The six-foot, nine-inch sophomore hit an incredible .733 for the match, with 23 kills.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the match did not end as serendipitously for their other star hitter. Robinson, who has been Princeton's most consistent offensive threat this season, came down hard on his ankle midway through the third game and was forced to leave the match. Without the threat of Robinson's daggers from the outside, the Tiger offense became dull and predictable, and Juniata was able to mount a comeback.

When the smoke had cleared from the disastrous afternoon, Princeton had dropped the decisive fifth game, 15-13, and lost the match. Even worse, Robinson's ankle injury means that he will likely be out for the remainder of the season. How the Tigers will replace their best offensive player, who leads the Tigers in kills in nearly every match and was named the EIVA's Player of the Week for his efforts in spurring the Tigers to a February victory over Rutgers-Newark, remains to be seen.

Fortunately for Princeton, however, the team has clinched a home match in the EIVA playoffs. The win over St. Francis on Friday, while dwarfed in comparison to the important games of Saturday and Sunday, allowed the Tigers to clinch fourth place in the EIVA's Tait Division. That means the Tigers will host their first-round playoff match when the postseason begins April 17.

Before they get to their dreams of playoff success, however, the Tigers have three games left to play in the regular season. Their final home game of the regular season is 7 p.m. tonight, in a non-league match with Sacred Heart. The team will be hoping for a big win to give them some momentum as they prepare for their final two league matches, against NYU and Penn State.