No. 1 PSU ends home win streak

In front of a capacity crowd in Dillon Gym, the Tigers knew they would have to play near-perfect volleyball to upset defending national champion. Penn State, who had just been upset the night before by George Mason and was not prepared to let a second match slip away.

Early in the first game, Princeton seemed a bit star-struck, as Tiger communication miscues helped a dominant Penn State front three jumped out to an early 7-4 lead. The Nittany Lions boasted impressive size and strength, with three players over six feet, seven inches, and capitalized on every Tiger miscue. A late Princeton run, triggered by junior middle blocker Mike Vincent’s service, was not enough, as Penn State took the first, 30-24.

The late run seemed to energize the Tigers, who came out strong in the second game, jumping out to a 4-2 advantage. After a Penn State timeout, however, the Tigers began to feel the strain of facing such size and strength. The Nittany Lions took every opportunity, playing textbook volleyball, and cruised to a 30-17 win.

The Tigers, however, were not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Holding tight in the early portion of the third game, Princeton won a critical exchange to go ahead 6-5, featuring a diving save by senior outside hitter and captain Peter Eichler. The Tigers cut down on their unforced errors and played some of their best volleyball of the season to take the third game 30-26. Junior libero Ka’Ohu Berg-Hee came through with several clutch digs to provide the Tigers with the opportunities they needed to seal the game.

The fourth game showcased the high-caliber, error-free volleyball both teams are capable of producing at their best. A Penn State run to gain a 17-13 advantage was more than the Tigers could handle, as they fell 30-25 in the fourth and final game.

After the game, it was clear that the Tigers gained new confidence from their home stretch. Nelson noted that he was not sure how his team would respond to early road losses but has been very pleased with his team’s performance during the home stand. The veteran Tiger coach complimented his team on how it has “come together and started to play really well.”

For all that Nelson was proud of his team’s effort, his team was equally proud of Nelson’s accomplishment. Junior outside hitter Phillip Rosenberg praised his coach’s longevity and expertise, noting that Nelson absolutely “deserves the honor.”

Eichler was also happy for his coach, partly because Nelson’s intense yet modest attitude would never allow him to revel in it.

“It’s a special day for him … though he’ll never admit it,” Eichler said. “We’re really lucky to have such a great coach.”

Eichler discussed how the team has had a “great stretch here and has a lot to be proud of.” It is certainly true, as the Tigers proved that they can compete with the top teams in the country and are looking forward to the playoffs. Rosenberg echoed Eichler’s sentiment, citing that this season marks the first time in his career that Princeton has taken games off Penn State.

“We have a lot to build on. But we now know that we can definitely play with them, and hopefully we will see them again in the semifinals or finals and make it happen,” sophomore middle blocker Jeff McCown said.

Princeton currently sits fourth in the EIVA Tait Division.