Princeton University Athletics
Men's Volleyball Seeks Upset, Finals Berth Tonight At No. 9 Penn State
April 24, 2003 | Men's Volleyball
April 24, 2003
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The No. 9 Penn State men's volleyball team has made four straight trips to the NCAA Final Four, but the last time it missed out, it was a semifinal contest against Princeton that doomed the Nittany Lions. For history to repeat itself tonight in the EIVA semifinal (7:30), Princeton will need to play close to a perfect match.
Penn State enters tonight's contest riding a nine-match winning streak, which includes a 3-0 home win over Princeton. Princeton did extend Penn State to four games in the first meeting of the two teams at Dillon Gym before falling 27-30, 30-15, 30-23, 30-23. Penn State also brings seven All-EIVA players into tonight's match, including Player of the Year Carlos Guerra and Rookie of the Year Dan O'Dell.
For Princeton, senior Dennis Alshuler has had the most success against Penn State in the two matches this season, averaging 3.14 kills per game. Blake Robinson and Brian Hamming, a pair of underclassmen who will lead the Princeton attack next season, each average 2.71 kills per game against the Nittany Lions. Junior setter Jason Liljestrom has averaged 34 assists per match.
Princeton will need to be sharp defensively, as the Tigers averaged only 3.86 digs per game in the losses to Penn State. In comparison, the Nittany Lions averaged 9.86 per game.
The contest will be the second semifinal. George Mason and Rutgers-Newark will open the competition at 5:30, while Princeton and Penn State are scheduled to begin at 7:30. Should Princeton pull off the upset, it would have a decent shot at making the NCAA Final Four for the second time in five years. Princeton and George Mason split this season, with the Tigers earning a 3-0 win in the most recent meeting. Rutgers swept Princeton this season, but the Tigers led Rutgers 2-0 and served a match ball in the third game.