Women's volleyball hopes to dethrone Penn in Ivies

It will be a hunt for blood this fall as Princeton women's volleyball looks to capture this season's Ivy League title after a frustrating finish last year that left them trailing Penn in the Ivy League rankings.

Rebounding off a forfeit by Columbia, the Tigers had a chance to win a share of the Ivy League crown from the Quakers, a team that has dominated the sport for the past few years.

Princeton had been the league's favourite throughout the Nineties, having won the Ivy title five times between 1994 and 2000, but has struggled through a recent rebuilding period, one in which at times the team possessed only one senior.

In a devastating 3-1 loss, however, the Tigers were unable to capitalize on the fortunate hand dealt them, and ended the season in second place, allowing Penn to be crowned champions for the third consecutive year.

The season definitely had its upsides, however, as Princeton ended the year with an 11-3 Ivy League record and an 18-7 all around record.

In addition, both then-junior Alex Brown and then-sophomore Lauren Grumet were named to the All-Ivy conference team. Then-sophomore Jenny Senske and then-freshman Jenny McReynolds earned All-Ivy team honorable mention honors as well.

Having graduated only one senior and retaining these four team leaders as well as a crew of powerhouse juniors and seniors, the Tigers will look to avenge their loss last year to a Penn team that may be reeling from the loss of four key senior starters. Princeton, too, will feel the void of its departed seniors. Outside hitter Kellie Cramm '04 was Ivy League Rookie of the Year as a freshman and racked up All-Ivy Second Team honors last season with her 3.66 kills per game, a difficult presence to replace.

Penn may still be the team to beat, however, and, having won the title for the past three years (sharing it with Brown in 2001), there is not a single player on the Quakers' team that has ever given up an Ivy League crown.

Precedence doesn't concern the Tigers, however, as they will look to their well-rounded squad of players to control almost every facet of their game.

Relying on McReynolds' fearsome defensive play, junior Brittany Woods' consistent blocking, and the powerhouse offensive leadership of Brown and Senske, Princeton will be a force to be reckoned with this Fall.

Grumet, the team's goto outside hitter, will act as the quarterback, excelling in every offensive and defensive aspect of the game and running things on the court while senior Ashley Weber will add her outside hitting skill as well in a new position she took up only last season.

With a strong group of veterans as well as three impressive freshmen who will add their talents to the team this fall, this season should be an exciting saga as the dethroned Tigers will look to end a dreary three years and reclaim their rule of the Ivy League kingdom.