Tigers suffer shocking loss to NJIT on road

Despite a start characterized by near-perfect play, the men's volleyball team could not sustain its initial intensity throughout the rest of its match.

After capturing the first game easily, 30-18, the Tigers (2-6 overall, 1-4 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) were blindsided by New Jersey Institute of Technology (5-3, 2-0). The Highlanders came from behind to win the next three games, 30-27, 32-30 and 30-27, to steal a victory Saturday night in Dillon Gym.

Princeton jumped to an early lead in the first game with an aggresive offensive attack. Sophomore opposite Reid Joseph contributed a series of powerful serves, and the Tigers pounded down numerous kills, including one by sophomore middle hitter Evan Pasion that put the Tigers up by a commanding 20-9 margin. Although NJIT answered right back with a five-point run, the Highlanders failed to catch up to the Tigers, and Princeton coasted to victory.

NJIT started the second game much better than it did the first, continuing the strong level of play it had begun to display at the end of the first game. The Highlanders stayed neck-and-neck with the Tigers, preventing Princeton from gaining another large lead.

"After the first game, we lost a lot of discipline," Pasion said. "Once we started making errors, the other team was able to take advantage of that."

Two kills by Highlander Eduardo Welter and an attack error by Joseph finally gave NJIT its first substantial late-game lead, 28-25. Despite two winners by freshman outside hitter Peter Eichler, Welter made another kill to seal the game for the Highlanders and tie the match at one game apiece.

The third game played out similarly to the second, as NJIT continued attacking offensively. The Highlanders also capitalized on an increasing number of service and attack errors by the Tigers. The lead bounced back and forth, with each team never down by more than one point. NJIT and Princeton tied the score at 26, 27, 28 and 29 before an attack error by senior middle hitter Sean Vitousek gave the Highlanders a game point.

Vitousek redeemed himself by evening the score at 30,but the Tigers' hopes of taking the game were dashed by NJIT outside hitter Greg Wagner's consecutive kills to close out the game for the Highlanders at 32-30.

Princeton showed signs of life by taking an early advantage in the fourth, with sophomore middle hitter R.J. Liljestrom's service ace putting the Tigers up, 10-5. NJIT halted Princeton's run, though, grabbing all but one of the next 13 points and reclaiming the lead, 17-12, thanks to consecutive kills and the Tigers' numerous offensive errors.

Though Princeton would close the gap to as few as three points after another service ace by Liljestrom, the Tigers could not complete a comeback, even after NJIT squandered two game points. A service error by Eichler sealed it for the Highlanders.

The loss comes as a disappointment for Princeton, who entered the game coming off an impressive sweep of NYU.

Four Tiger players posted at least 12 kills on the day, led by Eichler's 15 and senior outside hitter Blake Robinson's 14.Vitousek added 13 kills, five blocks and two digs and junior setter Jack Pichard contributed 55 assists.