Non-Ivy wins send message to league

It’s back. And it’s ready to defend its title.

Princeton (6-2 overall) won its final two non-conference matches against 2006 Division III National Champion Juniata (13-1) and host Seton Hill (5-6) at a triangular tournament in Greensburg, Pa.

Despite a boisterous crowd, the Tigers kept their composure and dominated Seton Hill, 25-6, 25-17, 25-14. For a match in which Princeton could have let up its intensity, both the veterans and the newcomers worked to stay mentally focused, something they know will be necessary down the road in league play.

“Friday night’s game was a good game because, although the scores clearly show we beat Seton Hill pretty soundly, we played our game and didn’t drop down to their level,” senior outside hitter and captain Parker Henritze said.

Senior outside hitter Sasha Sadrai also praised her team’s focus in the first match. “We did a good job of not slacking off and winning in three games,” Sadrai said. “This game … remind[ed] us what it is like to focus with the distraction of numerous hecklers.”

Princeton received strong play from its middle blockers and junior outside hitter Rachel Cocalis, whose strong serve kept both Seton Hill and Juniata off balance.

In Princeton’s second match of the weekend, a previously undefeated Juniata squad showed why it has won two Division III national championships in the past four years. Though the Tigers got all they could handle from Juniata, they pulled out a victory in a five-set battle, 22-25, 25-14, 27-29, 25-23, 15-5.

Despite Princeton’s inability to establish a rhythm throughout the first four games, the Tigers had the strength to put away their opponent in the pressure-filled fifth set.

“The Juniata game was frustrating because we played hot and cold and didn’t take advantage of our momentum coming off the beginning of the first game and the victory in the second game,” Henritze said. “But the fact that we gutted it out in the fifth and took control was a good sign.”

Sadrai said the Tigers finally found “a sense of urgency” in the fifth game and used their heightened focus to seal the match.

“Juniata has proved a competitive team each year we’ve played them, and this year was no exception,” Sadrai said.

As the Tigers attempt a second-straight title run, they can look to tough matches like the one against Juniata to summon confidence in fifth-set situations. Last season’s Ivy League opener against Penn was a five-set marathon match featuring 417 total attacks and three Princeton players with 20 or more kills. Luckily for the Tigers, they have those three players — Henritze, senior middle blocker Lindsey Ensign and junior outside hitter Sheena Donohue — back and ready to defend their championship.