Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
NYU
Dramatic Third Game Ends Home-Opening Win For Men's Volleyball
February 15, 2005 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 15, 2005
Box Score
PRINCETON - The Princeton men's volleyball team rallied from a big hole in the third game to sweep NYU and win its first match in the EIVA. The Tigers were led by freshman Peter Eichler (16 kills, .357) and sophomore Reid Joseph (10, .333).
The Tigers, who had lost their first three EIVA road matches, earned this win with game scores of 30-17, 30-26 and 36-34.
Princeton cruised in the opening-game, jumping out to an 11-4 lead after an ace by Eichler. A combination of offensive efficiency for the Tigers and errant hitting by NYU caused the lead to grow to 23-11, and by then both teams played out the already-decided game. NYU showed life in the second game and improved its hitting significantly, but Princeton countered with its top game of the match. The Tigers hit .407 in the second game (16 kills, five errors), and built a strong 24-17 lead on a block from Joseph and Evan Pasion. The Violets ran off three points on game ball, but a kill from middle hitter Sean Vitousek put the game away and gave Princeton a 2-0 lead.
If the Tigers thought they would coast to the victory, they were mistaken. NYU jumped out in the third game, scoring 11 of the first 16 points, including three kills from Chris Schmidt. The lead would grow to 20-14 before Princeton rallied with four of the next six points. NYU would hold the lead until the latest portion of the game and would have six chances at a game ball, but the Tigers fought off each attempt. An ace by Eichler finally gave Princeton a 35-34 lead, and a block by R.J. Liljestrom and Jack Pichard gave Princeton the win.
Pichard led Princeton with 44 assists and three aces, while Mark Stevens had a match-high seven digs. Vitousek led Princeton with four blocks.
Macnair Sillick led NYU with 12 kills while Matthew Janas added 11 kills and four digs.
Princeton will remain at home on Saturday and face NJIT at 2 p.m.