The Tigers (13-9 overall, 8-3 Ivy League) have struggled with weak opening sets in almost every match this season, but no team has capitalized on that like Columbia (15-8, 7-5). Princeton went into its first game against the Lions with a 5-0 record in the Ivy League, and the loss simply seemed like an inevitable slipup after so many sloppy starts.
What was once the team’s fearsome calling card, though, swiftly became the team’s Achilles heel. In the Tigers’ first match against Yale (16-7, 10-2), they fought back after losing the first set 23-25 to take the contest in four sets, but Princeton was unable to replicate that feat in a rematch last weekend, losing in straight sets to the Bulldogs.
The Tigers were up 23-20 in the first set, but they soon gave up five straight points. That would have been a disappointing result for any other team, but Princeton was used to that kind of start by then. The problem was amplified, though, when they missed three straight set points at 24-21 in the second set, again losing five straight points to drop behind two sets to none.
Princeton had no chance of coming back after that heartbreaker, and the Bulldogs, who hadn’t lost since their last game with Princeton, passed the Tigers in the Ivy League standings for first place. Yale had strong performances from many players, particularly setter Kendall Polan, who finished just one kill short of a triple-double.
The Tigers were still just a half game behind Yale, though, and the victory over Brown (8-16, 2-10) the following day guaranteed Princeton second place coming into this weekend’s matches against Cornell and Columbia. The Tigers displayed dominant form against Brown, winning in three straight sets.
The top three teams were still too close, though, leaving no margin for error in the race to the top. Coming into this weekend, Princeton, Yale and Penn (13-10, 9-2) were all tied with just two Ivy League losses each, and the championship became a question of who would trip first.
The Tigers put forth a strong effort against Cornell on Friday, breaking from their usual routine and taking the first two sets handily only to drop the third. Nevertheless, Princeton had little trouble putting away that match, and the bigger challenge came the next day against Columbia.
The Columbia game was hard-fought from the top, and the Tigers’ resiliency was on display once again. The Lions had a 24-22 lead in the first set, but the Tigers rallied to set point at 25-24, 26-25 and 27-26 only to see Columbia snatch each one away. The Lions finally captured the set 29-27 after four kills in five points.
Unlike what might be expected after such a close loss, the Tigers never gave up, fighting to keep the second set close. After a last-minute run gave Columbia the 25-21 victory, Princeton dug deep and captured the third set 25-20. Its streak of comebacks was over, though. The Tigers was unable to follow through, losing the fourth set and their spot in the Ivy League for the moment.
At two Ivy League losses each, both Yale and Penn are within striking distance, but the Tigers still need some help to have a chance at winning the league. Having already split the season series with Yale, Princeton will need to win its next two matches against Dartmouth and Harvard, which are hovering at fifth and sixth place in the league, respectively. The more difficult game will be the Tigers’ season finale against Penn, and a win would assure them at least second place in the league.
To claim first place outright, the Tigers will need help from Columbia and Cornell, who will attempt to knock the Bulldogs off their perch at the top of the league next weekend. If the Tigers successfully close out their season, two Yale losses will grant the Tigers the title, while one loss will require the use of tiebreakers to determine which team is the Ivy League champion.
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