Women's Volleyball: Tigers turn away Temple

The women’s volleyball team made its home debut with a bang last night, knocking off Temple and halting a three-game losing streak. Close sets and long volleys kept the fans on the edges of their seats. In the end, Princeton took three of the night’s four games to send the Owls home with a loss. The Tigers prevailed 25-19, 16-25, 25-22, 25-19.

Though Temple won the initial coin toss, sophomore outside hitter Lydia Rudnick earned Princeton the opening point with a successful attack. A series of faults from Temple and a strong performance from junior libero Hillary Ford gave the Tigers an early lead.

Following a slight return from Temple, Rudnick gave her team scoring opportunities with a trio of strong serves. Kills from sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Palmquist and freshman middle blocker Leah Jordan widened the gap. This type of momentum would become a theme for the rest of the night.

Throughout all four games, Princeton gained its leads with long point streaks.

“Our strength is keeping up in a run,” Rudnick said after the game. “We’re good at keeping pressure on the other team.”

When denied this momentum, however, the Tigers could not recover quickly.

“We need to improve on keeping our composure when we’re down,” Rudnick noted.

Temple’s greatest strength was their aggressive defense and active libero. After falling to the Tigers’ fast kills during the first game, the Owls began to read their opponent’s attacks. This defense provided Temple an early lead in the second game.

Though Ford and senior middle blocker Elizabeth McStravick displayed point-saving blocks throughout the set, Princeton could never take away the Owls’ early lead. The Tigers dropped the second set, but Temple could not sustain its momentum generated by well-timed blocks and rapid digs. While strong, Temple’s early defense did not hold for the third and fourth games.

Head coach Jolie Ward said that Temple’s points in the second game had more to do with the Tigers’ weaknesses than the Owls’ strengths.

“During the second game we were haunted by defeats at the Rutgers Tournament last weekend,” Ward said. “The team still needs to understand finishing sets.”

But Ward said she remains optimistic. In fact, she said the problem has much to do with the amount of skill the team carries this season.

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“I don’t consider [Rudnick] and [Palmquist] to be young players anymore,” Ward said. The coach also praised freshman outside hitter and defensive specialist Chelsea Parker as a strong addition to the team.

Ward said her team’s weakness lies in its lack of confidence.

“They need to be used to being ahead in the set,” Ward said. “Succeeding this season will be about gaining confidence.”

Palmquist agreed with her coach’s sentiments.

“Our problem the second game was that we lost focus,” she said. “We need to be able to keep our energy.”

The third game was the night’s closest and most exciting. Generally, short volleys kept the scoreboard active throughout the night. But as Princeton adapted to Temple’s second-game defense, exchanges became longer.

These longer volleys kept Jordan and junior setter Michaela Venuti busy at the net. However, consecutive blocks from the Tigers appeared to wear the Owls out. Kills that may not have connected in the second game allowed Palmquist to break a 22-22 stalemate and take the third game. Keeping with Princeton’s strengths, this momentum continued well into the fourth game.

Palmquist credited her team’s third-game breakthrough to Princeton’s defense.

“Our defense knows how to keep hold on the other team’s positions.”

Other highlights of the night included an impressive three-point streak gained off senior defensive specialist CC Lobben’s serves. Although a defensive player, Lobben herself took the kill on one of these successful volleys.

Parker led the team with 17 kills for the night. Rudnick, a frequent target for Temple throughout the night, blocked the Owls’ attacks with 17 digs.

Princeton will enter conference competition on Oct. 1 against Penn.

“Conference games are more competitive,” Palmquist said. “The Penn game next Friday will be tough.”