The match against NJIT exhibited Princeton’s tremendous potential. Junior outside hitter Phillip Rosenberg secured the first game, coming through in a timely manner with an ace to put the game away. In the first, the Tigers posted an impressive .556 kill percentage while holding the visiting Highlanders to a lethargic -.030 kill percentage. In a trend that haunted Princeton throughout the game, however, serving troubles kept the game close until the end, when the Tigers pulled away to win, 30-22.
The second game witnessed a strong start by the Highlanders, who took an 8-4 lead from which they never looked back, notching a 30-26 win. The Tigers were unable to secure key service points and could not close the early gap.
In the third game, the Tigers again fell behind early, 9-4. Missed serves and communication mishaps prevented the Tigers from closing the gap until late in the game, when senior captain and outside hitter Peter Eichler stepped up. Serving down 20-23, Eichler led the team to its first lead of the game, 24-23. The Highlanders, however, fought hard to stall the Princeton comeback, knotting the score at 25. Once again, Rosenberg came up big for the Tigers at the end of the game. A timely kill from Rosenberg gave Princeton the edge it would need to take the third, 30-27.
The fourth game once again began with NJIT taking an early 5-0 lead. After head coach Glenn Nelson called a timeout, the Tigers came back with a vengeance. On the strength of six-foot, nine-inch junior middle blocker Mike Vincent’s consecutive kill and block, the Tigers pulled even at nine-all and never looked back. Vincent notched an impressive .857 kill percentage overall and was a force at the net, recording five blocks. The final game ended with a convincing 30-22 margin.
Princeton is still undefeated at home and has its biggest home matches of the year this weekend. The Tigers face off with Tait Division No. 2 St. Francis (9-7, 5-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. and nationally ranked No. 1 Penn State (18-0, 9-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday. Both teams handed Princeton 3-1 defeats on the road earlier in the season.
“Penn State is probably the best collegiate team in the world right now,” Eichler said. “They will be tough to beat.”
Princeton took one game against Nittany Lions in their last meeting, so Saturday’s matchup will be a battle. Rosenberg believes that St. Francis is within reach, suggesting that home-court advantage and the team’s newfound confidence will be the deciding factors.
“[Everyone] is playing real strong right now and finally coming together,” Rosenberg said.
The Tigers need to improve their serving and limit their unforced errors if they are to be successful this weekend. Princeton proved it was a stronger team than NJIT but handed out a troubling 20 service errors and 16 attacking errors — numbers that will cost it dearly in upcoming games against stronger opponents.
Junior setter Brandon Denham led the Tigers with 58 assists, while Eichler posted 24 kills.
Before Saturday’s showdown with Penn State, Princeton stalwart Nelson — the winningest coach in school history — will be honored.
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