A Cinderella run to remember: Men’s volleyball falls just short of EIVA championship

Last week, battling it out in Rec Hall at Penn State, No. 6 men’s volleyball (9–15 overall, 3–9 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) competed at the EIVA Tournament. After advancing against the No. 3 George Mason Patriots (20–10, 8–4) in the quarterfinals and the No. 2 NJIT Highlanders (18–9, 9–3) in the semis, the Tigers made an unforgettable Cinderella run that surprised many, becoming the first sixth-seeded team to reach the tournament final since 2021. After securing a spot in the finals, Princeton ultimately fell to No. 1 Penn State (15–16, 8–4).

Despite entering the tournament with a losing record of 0–2 against the Patriots and 1–2 record against the Highlanders in the regular season, the Tigers showed out and played a suffocating playing style on both offense and defense, enabling them to stand victorious against both in the tournament.

“Entering the tournament as the No. 6 seed — especially after nearly missing the playoffs the weekend prior — there was a strong sense of gratitude throughout our program,” Head Coach Sam Shweisky wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “The opportunity to compete in meaningful matches at this stage of the season is something every program values, and our group did not take that for granted.”

Dominant 3–1 triumph against the Patriots

With the help of senior pinner Owen Mellon, who recorded a game-high of 15 kills, and sophomore middle blocker Ethan Wells, who tallied 2 solo blocks and 8 block assists, the Tigers closed out the night by capturing three sets in a row for a four-set victory. 

In the opening set, junior middle blocker Tristan Whitfield drew first blood with a booming spike that sparked the initial momentum for the team. But George Mason was no easy opponent, and they responded right back with a kill from opposite hitter Jackson Herbert. From there, an exchange of points ensued, and both teams were at a deadlock at 12 apiece.

The Patriots were first to break through, earning a two-point lead from double blocks against Mellon and Wells. Fueled by the playoff energy, however, the Tigers were quick to tie the game back at 14 all.

But just like before, the Patriots sought to maintain their lead and proceeded to go on a 3–0 scoring run, initiated by a kill from Herbert that clipped the line. Refusing to slip away, the Tigers formed a run of their own, with an out-of-bounds spike from opposite hitter Robert Evangelista and a service ace from Whitfield that tied the game at 21.

It was ultimately the Patriots who took the opening set, however, as they recorded several late-set kills and a point from a Princeton service error, winning 25–23.

Heading into the second, the Orange and Black were determined not to fall short again, and kills from senior pinner Andrew Werner and senior middle blocker Ryan Vena helped earn the team an early 3–0 run, putting the score at 4–1. The Patriots attempted to advance once more, but they continued to trail behind the Tigers throughout the set.

The Tigers kept pressing on and went on another scoring run of 3–0, forcing a Patriot timeout at 9–5. After a brief break, the Tigers continued to climb and received their biggest lead of the set at 12–6 after an overpass that Vena hammered down.

Although the Patriots were back within one after an attack error from Vena, Princeton pulled through thanks to kills from Werner and Vena, closing the set at 25–21 and bringing the match to an even 1–1.

Riding the confidence from the previous set, the Tigers dominated in the third, with a hitting percentage of .524.

The start of the set reflected that of the first, where both teams went on a back-and-forth of points. This time, it was the Tigers who first broke free, giving them a comfortable lead of 13–9. Moments later, they went on another run that extended their lead to 18–12, sparked by a service error from George Mason pinner Aidan Weltin.

But the Tigers still weren’t finished, as they continued to run hot until the end, taking the victory at 25–17 with their third 3–0 run of the set.

Needing only one more to seal the deal, the Tigers relentlessly beat down on the Patriots and opened up with a scoring run of 5–0, giving them an 8–3 lead. Though just like in the second set, the Patriots narrowed the score gap but were unsuccessful in taking the lead. A final kill from Werner sent the Patriots home and closed the set at 25–16.

“After the first set, I think we settled in and got more comfortable with the pace of the match,” Mellon told the ‘Prince.’ “Even though we dropped the first, it felt like we were building momentum, which carried into the next three sets and helped us turn things around.”

Gritty five-set win over NJIT

Heading into their semifinal matchup, the Tigers were hopeful to carry on the energy from Wednesday night. The Highlanders were first to put points up on the scoreboard due to attack errors from Mellon and Werner.

The Tigers were quick to reset and gained an early lead of 10–7, thanks to a triple block and kill from sophomore pinner Ambrose Engling. But as with every conference tournament, the Highlanders were unyielding, refusing to back down and quickly tied the game back at 12 apiece.

With a service ace from Vena and an attack error from the Highlanders, the Tigers proceeded to launch a 5–1 run that enabled them to regain the lead at 25–24. From there, both teams engaged in a lengthy trade of points until the score was even at 35.

It was the Highlanders who snatched the opening set, though, with a deafening spike from opposite hitter Wiktor Nowak.

In need of an immediate response, the Tigers set the tone early in the second with a 3–0 scoring run sparked by a Mellon kill. After another deadlock at 4 apiece, the Tigers went on the offensive once more, recording another run of 5–0. With this momentum, the Highlanders continued to struggle recovering spikes and Princeton won 25–16, ending the set with a low .167 hitting percentage.

But the Highlanders changed the tide once more in the third. Going on an early 3–0 run, the Highlanders maintained a safe lead, despite the dump from Engling in the following point. It wasn’t until late in the set, at 20–18, that Princeton managed to narrow the gap to a two-point deficit. Although kills from Engling and sophomore pinner Mason Rice aimed for a late-set comeback, the Highlanders ultimately took the third at 25–22.

The following set mirrored that of the second for the Tigers, the only difference being the initial lead by NJIT and their unwavering resoluteness. Under an early three-point deficit, the Orange and Black quickly recouped their points through a Highlander block error and a kill from Engling.

Though a brief back-and-forth exchange ensued until 9–9, the Tigers resurged and briefly took the lead before the teams tied again at 16, after an attack error from Engling. The Tigers pulled through once again as they fueled another scoring run of 5–0, forcing a fifth set.

Both teams gave their all, but it was ultimately the Tigers who showcased a greater hunger for the win. Beginning the set with a crucial 6–0 run, it seemed Princeton was ready to deliver the final blow. Yet, the Highlanders gave one final push, with a run of 5–0 that tied the game at 8 apiece, but it wasn’t enough. A costly attack error by Nowak and a spike from Mellon sealed the deal, sending them to the finals.

Final matchup against the reigning EIVA champs

One match away from a conference title, the Tigers’ nerves were higher than ever. Eager to complete the Cinderella run and redeem themselves against the Nittany Lions, Princeton engaged in a sequence of point exchanges until the score was even at 12–12. But the Lions quickly proved to be the dominant team as they generated a late 3–0 run and finished it off with a kill from middle blocker Gaige Gabriel to take the opening set.

The second set proved to be a similar experience for the Tigers. Despite tying at 5 apiece, the Lions escaped the deadlock with a massive 7–0 run that the Tigers simply couldn’t follow. Even with the kills from Rice and Whitfield, followed by several service errors from the Lions, they lost yet another set at 25–19.

In set three, the Orange and Black forced one final effort, which eventually put them in a one-point deficit situation for a possible comeback at 15–14.

An Ambrose ACE makes it a one-point game! 😮‍💨

S3 | PSU (2) 15, PRI (0) 14 | 📺 B1G+ | #PrincetonVolley pic.twitter.com/sSN11EU2V8

— Princeton Men’s Volleyball (@PrincetonVolley) April 26, 2026

But the Lions ultimately had the final answer, outperforming the Tigers and closing out the set to earn back-to-back conference titles.

“I’m really proud of what this team accomplished this season,” Mellon told the ‘Prince.’ “We had our ups and downs, but to put together a run like that and make the finals as the No. 6 seed says a lot about our resilience. It took a lot of work to get there, and I think everyone’s proud of how we finished.”

Although the Tigers’ run was just short of the title, their postseason performance was commendable. Upsetting two higher-seeded opponents, they revealed that their regular-season record didn’t reflect their true performance.

“As we look ahead, the offseason will be critical,” Shweisky replied to the ‘Prince.’ “Much of that responsibility lies with our players and their commitment to improving — whether that’s getting stronger physically or continuing to develop their skills through additional touches, both indoors and on the beach.”

Andrew Kang is an assistant Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’

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