Princeton earns third-straight win

Senior outside hitter and captain Peter Eichler was the difference maker, leading his team to victory. On the strength of Eichler’s serve, the Tigers earned their first lead of the night at 11-10, and they never looked back, taking the first game 30-25. In their game one victory, the Tigers notched an impressive .552 kill percentage, setting the tone for the remainder of the match.

Princeton came out strong in the second game, quickly gaining a 3-0 advantage on two Eichler aces before recording a decisive 30-14 finish. Sophomore middle blocker Jeff McCown provided the momentum with a vital kill at 10-7, followed by a block at 11-7. From there, the Tigers rode Eichler’s serve to a 19-9 lead that proved insurmountable. Freshman outside hitter Vincent Tuminelli, who made a truly remarkable diving save to keep the final point alive, closed out the game.

The Tigers’ teamwork and mental focus proved to be too much for Stevens, as the Orange and Black cut down on unforced errors and service mishaps as the match progressed. Princeton capitalized on a game-high seven aces by Eichler, who also led both teams with 20 kills and a .472 kill percentage. Even more astounding, the Tiger defense was able to hold the Stevens attack to a lethargic -.083 kill percentage in the second game.

The third game was tight, however, as the match ended on a hard-fought 30-27 game. The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead behind junior setter Brandon Denham’s skilful serving. Six-foot, nine-inch junior middle blocker Mike Vincent played a key role in the third and final game, using his height to the fullest extent.

“We had heard good things about this team coming in, so we were ready for a tough fight,” Eichler said. “I was definitely expecting this to be a little closer, but that’s a credit to the game we put out tonight.”

The Tiger offense just clicked with more consistency than Stevens could handle, as many points were routinely put away with kills from Eichler. Vincent and Tuminelli each recorded eight kills and an ace, while Denham added a game-high 46 assists to the Tigers’ efforts.

Head coach Glenn Nelson was pleased with his team’s performance and impressed by Stevens’ defense, citing its “great defensive plays” and diving digs. Nelson credited his team’s effort, noting that Stevens “gave us a tough battle last year” and that this has been a key home stand for his team.

The Tigers’ immediate goal is to improve their league record to secure a first-round playoff bye, a major benefit for the top-two EIVA Tait Division finishers.

The Tigers seem to thrive on home-court advantage, having been perfect at home this season while going just 2-5 on the road. Their upcoming schedule plays well into this trend, as the vast majority of the biggest remaining games against EIVA opponents are at home.