Princeton University Athletics
Men's Volleyball Opens 2006 Campaign With Optimism, Hope
January 30, 2006 | Men's Volleyball
Jan. 30, 2006
The Princeton men's volleyball team opens its 2006 season with Hope, literally and figuratively. The Tigers open both the 2006 season and its annual California trip Monday night with Hope International (3-1). And while Hope is the team on the schedule, it is also the feeling among the team, which combines veteran starters with an exciting crop of freshmen.
"This will probably be the most freshmen I start on a team since 1995," longtime head coach Glenn Nelson said before the season. "That's a good thing. These guys have talent."
It's likely that three freshmen could be in the starting lineup tonight when Princeton opens its season against the Royals. Of course, there will be four others starting for the Tigers, and they have already made an impact on Princeton volleyball.
The biggest impact player is senior middle blocker Brian Hamming, who missed most of the 2005 season with a shoulder injury. Healthy and ready for his senior campaign, Hamming will need to be explosive on both the offensive and defensive ends.
"We expect a lot out of him this season," Nelson said. "He's looked good so far and seems fully healed."
Hamming is a physical presence at 6-9, but he is just as much an emotional leader for the Tigers. A driven competitor, he could end up being among the EIVA leaders in blocks and hitting percentage by the end of the season.
Princeton's leader in kills last season returns in sophomore outside hitter Peter Eichler. The 6-4 outside averaged 3.87 kills last season and 1.59 digs, and with the graduation of go-to hitter Blake Robinson, Eichler will open the campaign as the most seasoned outside presence for the Tigers. Junior Jack Pichard moves from setter to rightside hitter for Princeton, which will allow him to better utilize his versatility. Pichard will be able to set when needed, but his explosiveness at the net will also give him the chance to swing more. The team leader in aces last season, Pichard will also combine with Hamming to give Princeton a dangerous 1-2 punch on the serve.
The final returning starter is senior libero Mark Stevens. The team leader in 2005 with 2.41 digs per game, Stevens ignited the offense with his solid passing, and he gave Princeton several extra swings with his athletic digs.
The first freshman in the starting lineup will likely be Phillip Rosenberg, a four-time all-CIF representative and two-time MVP. A 6-0 newcomer from Pasadena, Calif., Rosenberg will move from the middle blocker position he played at Pasadena Polytechnic to outside, where he and Eichler could make for one of the best young tandems in the league.
Joining Hamming in the middle will be Michael Vincent, which makes sense, since Vincent is the only player on the team that can stand straight and look Hamming eye to eye. Both middles are 6-9, and Vincent brings an athletic background from his days at La Costa Canyon in Encinitas, Calif. He led his team to two division titles and had the top hitting average and the most blocks on his team. His combination of size, athleticism and court savvy could make him a dangerous presence during his time of the rotation at the net.
Of course, a volleyball team can only go as far as its setter will take it, so much of the success this season will hinge on the development of freshman Brandon Denham, a highly sought-after recruit from Oaks Christian High School in Camarillo, Calif. A CIF MVP and four-time letterman, he led his volleyball team to a 28-1 record and a CIF title as a senior. He spreads the ball around and is already a solid blocker at the net. Nelson has developed some terrific setters over the last decade, including Jason Morrow and Jason Liljestrom, and he is hoping that Denham will be next in line.
There is depth at every position for Princeton. Veterans Evan Pasion and R.J. Liljestrom gained valuable experience at middle blocker while Hamming was injured last season, and both could be called upon throughout the season. Ryn Burns took last year off but returns as an explosive outside hitter if needed, and freshman Ka'ohu Berg-Hee brings plenty of athleticism from his days in Honolulu.
With 16 players on the roster, Nelson will certainly have options to work with as he tries to put the right pieces together. Princeton will play four matches this week, and each will be very tough tests for the young squad. The Tigers will return and jump immediately into league play, where they hope to be the team to unseat longtime EIVA champion Penn State and return to the NCAA Final Four, a goal they reached in 1997. The typical rivals at George Mason, Juniata and Rutgers-Newark return, and each will be hoping to finish in the top four in their division to clinch home court in the EIVA quarterfinals.