Men's volleyball hosts opening round playoff game Saturday

The world of sports has a unique capacity to elevate mortal men to the status of heroes. Those who perform the best when the stakes are the highest earn the adulation of children and the respect of grown men. Revered above all are those star athletes who can shake off sickness or injury to carry their teams to a championship.

We all remember a flu-ravaged Michael Jordan ripping out his IV and taking the court to singlehandedly dominate the Utah Jazz back in 1998. Every sports fan has heard about Kirk Gibson hobbling around the bases after blasting a dramatic home run to carry the Dodgers to victory in the World Series ten years earlier. Willis Reed, Emmitt Smith, Bobby Orr — all of these athletes have become heroes because of their legendary ability to excel while enduring great pain.

However, for every story of a sports hero who played hurt and triumphed, there are a dozen examples of star players who got hurt and couldn't recover, costing their team a chance at a championship. The loss of a key player can be devastating to a team's chemistry and ability to win.

Just such a situation confronts men's volleyball, who will begin postseason play this weekend against George Mason (6-17 overall, 4-8 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) with their star hitter, junior outide hitter Blake Robinson, still feeling the effects of a serious ankle injury. Robinson has not played since March 28, when he severely sprained his ankle in the middle of a home game against Juniata.

Before Robinson's injury, the Tigers had been rolling, winning nine of 12 games and making a strong push for third place in the EIVA's Tait Division. Robinson had led the team to a 3-2 upset of third place Rutgers-Newark in late February, earning EIVA player of the week honors for his effort. Furthermore, in the game in which Robinson hurt his ankle the Tigers held a 2-0 lead over Juniata, the league's second ranked team. After the injury, however, the Tigers collapsed, losing in five games. Princeton (13-9, 5-7) managed to split its last four games without Robinson and maintain fourth place in the EIVA, setting the stage for a home playoff match this weekend. While Robinson says that "there's a chance" he will be available for the game, he has yet to practice since his injury. With the junior's status uncertain until the 1 p.m. game time Saturday, the Tigers will prepare for the Patriots without him.

Stepping into the void created by Robinson's injury is junior outside hitter Ryn Burns, a consistent player known for his passing who does not have Robinson's dominant hitting prowess. Nonetheless, Burns has elevated his game to fill the void in the offense, averaging 2.65 kills per game.

The Tigers will also need an outstanding effort from sophomore middle hitter Brian Hamming, who hit .479 this season. Hamming joined Robinson as the Tigers' only players selected to the league's all-star team this season. Both were named to the All-EIVA second team.

Neither Burns nor Hamming will be able to accomplish anything, however, without a stellar effort from the team's lone senior, setter Jason Liljestrom. The Tiger captain has been solid all season long, averaging 12.5 assists per game and calling the shots for the Princeton hitters. The start of the playoffs means every game will be that much more important to Liljestrom, as a loss will mean the end of his Princeton career.

"[Liljestrom] has been great for us all year," Burns said. "He has been our leader in the locker room and on the court. We want to win this one for him. He has given so much of himself to this team."

The road to the EIVA Championship begins Saturday in Dillon Gym. The crowd promises to be rowdy as it celebrates the longtime Princeton tradition of Newman's Day. With or without their best player, the Tigers are sure to put out an effort that will give their fans plenty to cheer about.