Princeton University Athletics
Robinson Earns EIVA Player Of The Week Honors
March 02, 2004 | Men's Volleyball
March 2, 2004
PRINCETON, N.J. - Junior outside hitter Blake Robinson was given the responsibility of putting away some of the biggest points in the recent history of the Princeton men's volleyball program last Friday night. Now he's been given the honor of the EIVA Player of the Week.
Robinson led Princeton to a dramatic 3-2 win over the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders, and it took every one of Robinson's touches to help lead Princeton to the win. Trailing 2-0 in games and already below their opponents in the league standings, the Tigers mustered a monumental rally that marked them as a legitimate contender for the EIVA championship match.
Leading the way was Robinson, Princeton's leading hitter. Robinson ended the match with 22 kills, seven digs, four blocks and an ace as the Tigers won the final three games 30-27, 30-23 and 18-16. When the pressure got tight, the Aliso Viejo, Calif., native rose to the occasion. "When we need a big point," senior setter Jason Liljestrom said after the match, "Blake is my go-to guy."
He served his role well, recording kills at 15-15 and 16-16 to keep the advantage Princeton's way. Rutgers-Newark never served for the match, and managed three sideouts before Princeton finally clinched the match after a hitting error.
Robinson also had a match-best 14 kills in a win over Southampton on Sunday afternoon.
Princeton, currently riding a seven-match win streak, is now one of three teams in the EIVA Tait Division with two losses. Penn State (10-4, 5-0) leads the league and has the inside track on hosting the conference semifinals and finals on April 22 and 24, an honor that goes to the regular-season winner of the Tait Division. Rutgers-Newark is 6-2 in the division, Juniata is 4-2 and Princeton is 3-2. The top four teams will host the conference quarterfinals on April 17, and the Tigers are three games ahead of fifth-place Springfield in the loss column.
The next two weeks will be critical for Princeton's chances at claiming that home court for the first round. The Tigers will play Springfield in consecutive weekends, beginning Saturday in a 7 p.m. road contest. The Tigers will host Springfield the next weekend, and then travel to George Mason for a midweek match. If Princeton wins those next three matches, it will gain ground in the standings and hold the tiebreaks over those two potential opponents.