Princeton University Athletics
1999 Men's Volleyball Outlook
September 16, 1999 | Men's Volleyball
Now that the men's volleyball team has tasted the good life—an EIVA championship, a trip to the Final Four to tangle with some of the nation's elite squads—it understands that the bar is quite a bit higher now than it ever was.
Led by head coach Glenn Nelson, the 2000 men's volleyball team will be looking to rebound from an inconsistent season that followed the dream season in 1998. Although a closer look does show that Princeton was really coming together at the end of the season.
Close losses to EIVA powerhouse Rutgers-Newark and NJIT (which was one game away from the Final Four) indicates the gap between the league's top teams and Princeton, which finished in sixth place, was not as steep as some feared. Although the Tigers enter this season having lost the powerful hitting of Brandon Vegter, there is reason to believe that Princeton will be in the thick of the race this season.
And now that the Tigers have experienced the thrill of the Final Four, anything less is unacceptable.
Leading the charge back is senior captain Jason Morrow. The 1998 EIVA tournament MVP and a second-team All-EIVA selection last season, Morrow will be a crucial component to the team's success this season. His play will certainly be important, and it is usually nothing less than stellar. The setter, Morrow has the unique ability to know exactly who should kill each ball and get that person an opportunity. He keeps each player on the team involved, his defensive capabilities, though, can not be overlooked. With all of his physical talents, it may be his presence alone that is most important. He carries a great deal of experience from the 1998 championship team, and his fiery leadership should keep the team focused, especially during this, his final season.
Obviously, Morrow can't win the points by himself. He needs to be surrounded by quality hitters, and the group that Princeton will send to the floor this year certainly has the potential to be that kind of group.
Like Morrow, Steve Cooper understands what it means to start for a championship team. He was the only freshman in the starting rotation for Princeton when it went to the 1998 Final Four. He has anchored the left side ever since he debuted for Old Nassau, and he should be one of the most reliable hitters this season as well.
Cooper, who played in the high school state championship as a member of Webster High, will be joined by a fellow Webster teammate in Ryan Black. A former member of the Princeton lacrosse team, Black got some significant playing time in 1998 and became a starter in 1999. With that experience under his belt, there are high expectations out of this middle back player. He is a gifted athlete with a high attack percentage. With some improvements defensively, he could become one of the most complete players in the league.
A pair of upperclassmen who could also have a big impact this season are Tom Dowd, John Lerch and Kevin Roche. Roche led the team with 4.13 kills/game, although he'll need to improve his attack percentage to become one of the biggest threats in the league. Lerch was efficient on both offense and defense, averaging 2.66 kills/game and almost two digs/game. Dowd came in and played well numerous situations, averaging over one kill/game off the bench.
As always, there will be room for underclassmen and freshmen to make some noise and battle for playing time. Players like Blair Anderson, Eric Berg, Jim Citron and Pablo Clarke are hoping that another summer of hard work and another year of experience amount to some significant use.
“I think the bell-ringer could be 6' 5” freshman Dennis Alshuler,” Nelson says of one of his incoming freshmen. “He was very highly recruited. He's a strong hitter and blocker.”
Young blood mixed with veteran leadership could amount to another deep run into the postseason. Another trip to the Final Four?
Nelson's feet are still on the ground.
“I'm looking for some improvement and for us to move up from sixth,” he says. “All of these players have another year of experience under their belt. Morrow and Cooper, guys like that, they've been to the EIVA Final Four, representing Princeton as freshmen and sophomores. I'm sure they want to do that again as upperclassmen.”