Princeton University Athletics
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Men's Volleyball Hopes Experience, Talent Will Help Tigers Take Next Step
January 23, 2008 | Men's Volleyball
In 2006, the Princeton men's volleyball team reached the EIVA quarterfinal. In 2007, the Tigers won a 3-2 thriller in that same round and found themselves in the league semifinals. Senior captain Peter Eichler, an All-East player last season, has no interest in seeing the progression end. With five returning starters and talented newcomers ready to make an impact, the Princeton men's volleyball team will open its 2008 season next Wednesday in San Diego.
Princeton was picked third in the 2008 EIVA preseason poll, behind nine-time defending champion Penn State and currently-unbeaten George Mason. The Tigers will begin the season with their annual California trip, which will include matches at Cal-Baptist (Jan. 31) and Hope International (Feb. 1) following the opener at California-San Diego. The EIVA season opens Feb. 8 at Juniata, Princeton's quarterfinal victim last season, and the Tigers' home opener will take place Feb. 12 against NYU at 7 p.m.
Princeton returns players at every position who either started or saw significant time during a 12-win 2007 season. Eichler and Mike Vincent earned All-East honors last season, while setter Brandon Denham, outside hitter Phil Rosenberg and libero Ka'ohu Berg-Hee are all upperclassmen with at least one full year of starting experience.
"This is the best team I've been on going into the season," Eichler said. "We will see how that plays out, if we continue to push ourselves and achieve what we can, but I'm very excited and optimistic."
Eichler himself is one of the prime reasons for optimism. He ranked in the EIVA top ten in kills (3.93) and aces (.46) last season and has been a consistent figure in the starting lineup since he first put on a Princeton jersey. He is an emotional, fiery leader on the court, and he is determined to get Princeton into its first EIVA final in a decade to conclude his final season.
"I'm stronger than I've ever been," Eichler said. "I've been training my vertical rigorously and volleyball-wise I've been working very hard on my passing and hitting, and I certainly plan on going out on top."
Following a strong sophomore season, Rosenberg will join Eichler as a starting outside hitter. He trailed only Eichler in kills (2.63) and digs (1.85) for Princeton last season, and he had several impressive performances late last season. In the 3-2 quarterfinal over Juniata, he was the only player on the floor with a double-double (13 kills, 14 digs). Although he may have been overlooked by other schools because he is an undersized outside, he has proven to be an explosive hitter when given a swing.
Freshman Vinny Tuminelli, a 6-3 outside, will add depth to the position and will be a key figure in the future with Eichler's impending graduation. Tuminelli played at Half Hollow Hills West and led his team to a county championship while earning MVP honors.
Vincent will lead the middles after recording 2.55 kills, a .335 attack percentage and 1.1 blocks per game last season. He ranked 10th in blocks last season in EIVA play and did a more than capable job against some of the league's top middles, like St. Francis' graduated leader, Marc Honore. Vincent and Denham are in their third year together and should have terrific chemistry when the season opens.
Sophomore Jeff McCown is slated to start as the second middle for Princeton. McCown played in more than half the matches last season and averaged nearly two kills per game, and he enters the 2008 season with a better understanding of the offense. He will be challenged by freshman Keenan McCarthy, a 6-5 middle who led La Costa Canyon to a pair of CIF titles.
Sophomore Carl Hamming is ready to step in as the full-time rightside player this season after alternating with Reid Joseph '07 last year. Head coach Glenn Nelson felt Hamming wasn't quite ready for the physical nature of collegiate volleyball last season, but he thinks Hamming will be a much more consistent force this year. He has shown improvement in the preseason, as well as a desire to keep the starting job.
As always, the offense will run through the experienced Denham, who ranked fifth in the EIVA last season with 12.3 assists per game. Denham had 53 assists in the EIVA quarterfinal win against Juniata, and in the decisive fifth game, he helped Princeton to a match-best .417 hitting percentage. He is valuable all over the court with the ability to block, dig and, when the opportunity is there, win the point on his own.
Berg-Hee returns as the libero and will have a full year of experience under his belt. He played in every match as a sophomore and averaged 1.52 digs per game.
There is depth at every position, with the likes of Cameron Heggi, Harsha Dante and Aaron Linsky, as well as newcomers John Morris and Jeff Zhao ready to make a positive contribution.
EIVA 2008 Pre-Season Poll
Tait Division
Penn State (36, 6 first place votes)
George Mason (30, 1 first place vote)
Princeton (24)
St. Francis (20)
Juniata (15)
E. Stroudsburg (12)
NJIT (10)