After every point earned this season, the men’s volleyball team has used a coordinated clap to rally for the next play. But that clap was nowhere in sight in Princeton’s (14-9 overall, 5-5 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) quarterfinal match of the EIVA playoffs against Sacred Heart on Saturday at Dillon Gymnasium.
“[Head coach Sam Shweisky] has a degree in sports psychology, and there’s actually a correlation between teams that touch more and the success they have,” senior middle blocker and co-captain Jeff McCown said about the Tigers’ new huddle after each point.
It certainly worked for the Tigers, who bested the Pioneers 28-30, 30-27, 30-14, 30-18. Though the match started out with two close games, the Tigers were able to call on their endurance and experience with longer games to outlast Sacred Heart and finish the match in dominating fashion.
“Our team does a really good job of adjusting, and I think that’s key to our success,” McCown said.
After being tied at 19 in the first game, the Tigers fell behind 24-19 after two service aces from Pioneer setter Tim Sadowski. A lacking Princeton defense relied on a service error to earn the side out. Sophomore setter Scott Liljestrom served the Tigers to within a point of the Pioneers with help from the combination of freshman middle blocker Michael Dye and senior outside hitter Carl Hamming for two blocks. A kill from McCown brought the score to 29-28, but Sacred Heart put game one away with a block.
Sacred Heart carred its momentum into the second game, jumping out to an 11-7 lead on more serving from Sadowski. A kill from junior outside hitter Vincent Tuminelli brought Hamming to the line, where he helped Princeton contributed five kills in the second game, and Hamming recorded six kills in addition to a service ace.
The Pioneers went up 27-25, but Princeton called a timeout to quell their efforts. The Tigers went on to score five straight points — four on Liljestrom serves — and a kill by Dye ended game two.
“We were playing down to their level [in the first two games],” Dye said. “We really switched it up the third and fourth sets and played our own game.”
The third set saw what seemed to be a completely different Princeton team on the court that rallied to hit a whopping .824 attack percentage. The blocking game, which the Tigers have had difficulty with all season, was point on; though the defense struggled in the first game, the team recorded 17 total team blocks and a season-best 30 block assists.
The game went back and forth until Princeton went on a five-point run that put it ahead 14-7. A kill from Sacred Heart gave the Pioneers the ball, but Princeton got the ball right back on a Tuminelli kill that sparked another run and brought the score to 21-8.
Though on a team that spreads its offense throughout all of its players, Tuminelli was the hero of the night, hitting .444 and recording team-bests of 16 kills and 10 digs. Sacred Heart was unable to close the gap of 13 points, and junior middle blocker Keenan McCarthy served the Tigers to victory, 30-14.
Tuminelli led the way again in the fourth set with five kills, including one that downed Sacred Heart libero Adrian Fernandez and put the score at 15-10.
This lead did not dwindle. Princeton ended the game with a triple block from Hamming, McCown and freshman outside hitter Pat Schwagler, followed by consecutive double blocks from McCown and Schwagler.
Princeton will face George Mason in the EIVA semifinals on Thursday at Penn State.
“We need to get all five of our hitters on the same page,” Dye said about the upcoming games. Princeton is 2-0 against George Mason this season.
If Princeton wins on Thursday night, it will advance to the finals against either Penn State or Springfield on Saturday night.
The Tigers have not won an EIVA championship since 1998, when a 3-0 sweep of Rutgers-Newark landed them a spot in the NCAA Final Four.
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.