Princeton University Athletics
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Volleyball Returns From Break With Loss To NYU, Faces Key League Match Wednesday
April 02, 2008 | Men's Volleyball
The Princeton men's volleyball team was playing its best ball of the season heading into a three-week break. Coming off a win over George Mason and an impressive four-game loss to No. 1 Penn State, the Tigers showed they could be a factor in the EIVA postseason. They will look to find that form again as they return from break, but there will be some rust to shake off first. Princeton fell to 9-7 overall with a 3-0 loss at EIVA Hay Division leader NYU, one night before a key divisional match at NJIT.
Princeton, which won a tight four-game match over NYU in its home opener March 12, fell 30-26, 30-26, 30-27 at the Coles Sports Center in New York City. Senior captain Peter Eichler recorded 16 kills and hit .324 for the match, but he was the only Tiger player with double-digit kills. Sophomore rightside player Carl Hamming added nine kills and four blocks, while junior setter Brandon Denham recorded 33 assists and three digs.
Princeton found itself trailing early in the first game, but a Hamming kill helped even the score at 22. Both teams sided out for the next seven points, which didn't allow the Tigers to ever get a lead. NYU would get five of the final six points, including a pair of kills from Devin Zolnowski, to pull out the 30-26 win. The second game would end in the exact same fashion, as the Violets won five of six points after a 25-25 tie to clinch the 2-0 lead. NYU held the lead the entire third game, and despite a late rally after trailing 28-24, the Tigers could not hold off NYU's 20th win of the season.
While Tuesday's loss was disappointing, the match didn't hold nearly as much importance as the Wednesday night showdown at NJIT. Princeton is currently ranked third in the EIVA Tait standings with a 4-4 record, and it can fortify that position with a win at the Highlanders (10-12, 3-7). Although Princeton topped NJIT 3-1 on March 5 at Dillon Gym, the Highlanders have proven to be a tough squad at home, where they are 7-3 on the season. Princeton has three division matches remaining after Wednesday's match: April 4 vs. Juniata (4th, 5-5 Tait); April 8 vs. East Stroudsburg (7th, 0-9 Tait) and April 11 at George Mason (2nd, 7-3).