Early loss gives Tigers needed energy

The women's volleyball team learned quickly from its mistakes this weekend, using effective hitting to win its final three matches after being swept by Liberty in its first match of the Villanova Tournament. After beating William & Mary and Binghamton, Princeton (5-3 overall) closed competition at the tournament with a win over Big East representative Villanova.

The match against the host Wildcats (8-4) on Saturday stretched for five games, with Princeton only taking control in the final game. The Tigers won the match by scores of 30-21, 19-30, 34-32, 23-30 and 15-6. Junior middle blocker Lindsey Ensign led Princeton with 20 kills, while junior outside hitter Parker Henritze notched team-high totals of 21 digs and six aces.

Princeton won the first game on the strength of a .484 hitting percentage, and two consecutive kills from sophomore outside hitter Sheena Donohue gave the Tigers the third game. Princeton took charge in the final game on the back of three-point service runs by Henritze and junior setter Bailey Robinson. Freshman middle blocker Elizabeth McStravick had the match-winning kill.

"Villanova had some power hitters and big blockers, but we were able to focus on our side of the net and minimize our errors to make sure that Villanova worked for their points," junior outside hitter Kelli Grobe said. "The hitters were playing smart and hitting well, and the passers were serve-receiving probably better than any match this weekend."

The Tigers started their sweep Saturday with a four-game win over Binghamton (3-10). Princeton dropped the first game but won the match 28-30, 30-16, 30-21, 30-20. Donohue led the offense with 17 kills and 24 digs, while Henritze added 17 kills, 13 digs and five aces. Senior libero Jenny McReynolds had a match-best 31 digs, and Robinson contributed 59 assists and 17 digs.

The Tigers had a shakier start Friday, falling in straight games to Liberty (8-5). The Flames hit above .300 on their way to a 30-26, 30-23, 30-25 victory.

Princeton held a 25-21 lead in the first game, when Liberty put together a 6-0 run and took the game. The Tigers tied the second game up at 5-5 before Liberty regained the lead and controlled the rest of the game. The teams traded the lead throughout the third game, with Princeton tying the score up at 22-22 before four Princeton attack errors helped hand the game to the Flames.

In the losing effort, Ensign led Princeton with 13 kills, and Henritze added 12.

"After the frustrating Liberty game, we sat together and talked about going back to the fundamentals of volleyball and really focusing on those," Grobe said. "We knew that once we went back to the basics and played with heart, then the chemistry would come naturally from there."

The Tigers bounced back from the loss to take the day's second match in straight games. Princeton defeated William & Mary (4-8) in a 30-21, 30-24, 30-19 victory.

The Tribe had an 18-13 lead in the opening game when Donohue recorded a kill and served a 7-0 run, giving the Tigers a lead they would hold for the rest of the game. William & Mary took the first three points of the second, but the Tigers took control on senior outside hitter Emily Turner's serve and refused to relinquish it. Ensign contributed the match-winning kill off an assist from Robinson.

Donohue paced Princeton with 14 kills against the Tribe, McReynolds led all players with 21 digs and Robinson contributed 45 assists. Princeton hit at least .200 in every game and hit at a match-best .340 in the second game.