Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
St. Francis University (PA)
Familiar Formula Plagues Men's Volleyball In 3-2 Home Loss
March 10, 2006 | Men's Volleyball
March 10, 2006
Box Score
PRINCETON - A season-ending injury to senior middle Brian Hamming forced freshman Michael Vincent to step up as the men's volleyball top middle. He showed plenty of promise Friday night, recording 16 kills, six blocks and a .583 attack percentage, but it wasn't enough against a tough St. Francis team that rallied from a 2-1 deficit for its fifth league win of the season.
For Princeton, it was a second straight home disappointment. In its last home match, the Tigers carried a 2-1 lead into the fourth game against Rutgers-Newark, but they would surrender the lead and the match. That would be the case again against St. Francis, which is now 9-7, 5-2 in the EIVA Tait. Princeton falls to 3-10, 2-6 in the Tait Division.
Both teams played a tight first game, but St. Francis pulled ahead by two points late. A pair of kills by middle R.J. Liljestrom, who replaced Hamming in the lineup, pulled the match even at 27-27, but an error by Jack Pichard at game ball gave the Red Flash a 30-28 win.
St. Francis had two game balls in the second game, but twice Princeton averted the loss, including one on a kill by Peter Eichler. The Tigers earned a game ball on another kill by Eichler, and this time Pichard wouldn't miss, evening the match with a 32-30 win.
Big runs would key a 30-25 win for Princeton in the third game and a 30-24 win for St. Francis in the fourth game. Princeton would lead 7-5 in the fifth game, but the Red Flash would go on to win nine of the next 11 points to hold a 14-9 lead, and after Princeton avoided defeat twice, St. Francis completed the season sweep with a 15-11 win. Eichler and Pichard led Princeton with 18 kills apiece, while freshman setter Brandon Denham added 57 assists and nine digs, both team highs.
The Tigers had no answer for junior middle Marc Honore, who had 16 kills, 12 blocks, three aces and a .407 attack percentage. Princeton continues its homestand next Saturday afternoon when it takes on Juniata at 4 p.m.