Spike-ler assumes control

Despite a slow start, the Tigers rallied and fought, responding to encouragement from the fans that trickled into Dillon and filled the courtside bleachers.

“After we dropped the first game, some of the team specifically mentioned that if we wanted anybody to come back, we had better pick up the intensity, get excited and start winning,” sophomore outside hitter Carl Hamming said. “We made some serves, got on a few runs and didn’t let them get any momentum.”

The Princeton team that showed up in the first game looked nothing like the one that dominated the rest of the contest.

“The only adjustments we made from game one to game two were a little more energy and a little less sucking,” senior outside hitter and captain Peter Eichler noted. “We’ve never lost to NYU since I’ve been here, but we still struggle against them because we get complacent, and that’s unacceptable.”

The contest was a consummate display of firepower. Both teams attacked relentlessly, aiming for the big serves and definitive kills. In the end, however, well-executed defense turned out to be more effective than 70 mph spikes. Despite NYU’s 63 total kills, Princeton’s tough defense also forced the Violets to commit 26 errors. The NYU offense faltered at the most crucial juncture of the contest. Leading 30-29 in the fourth game, the Violets committed a string of three errors, handing the Tigers the victory.

“They didn’t seem to be a long rally team; they went for all or nothing a lot,” Hamming said. “It seemed like they served and attacked very aggressively, and when you do that you’re going to make mistakes. We just had to be sure to let them.”

In addition to NYU’s errors, the home crowd also helped fuel the Princeton comeback. Drawing on the emphatic chants of “Spike-ler! Spike-ler!” Eichler willed his team back into control of the contest. Eichler led the way for the Tigers with 20 kills. Junior outside hitter Phillip Rosenberg added 17 kills and 12 digs, and junior setter Brandon Denham coordinated the offensive attack with 45 assists over the four games. As a team, the Tigers combined for an attack percentage of .347, converting 59 kills with only 10 errors.

Many players noted that a critical aspect of the game that needs improvement is the service game.

Unfortunately, both teams were lacking in that area on Tuesday night. The Violets tossed up 24 errors and the Tigers accumulated 16 serving errors. The Tigers only managed three aces, including two from junior middle blocker Mike Vincent.

Six matches into the season, the Tigers seem to have finally found their rhythm. NYU, ranked No. 6 in the Division III Men’s Volleyball Coaches Poll coming into the contest, became Princeton’s second consecutive EIVA victim. The Tigers will look to continue their streak this weekend when they head back out on the road to Pennsylvania, where they will face St. Francis and perennial power and 2007 Final Four participant Penn State.