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Men's Volleyball Hopes To Ride Experience, Hunger Into 2009 Season
January 22, 2009 | Men's Volleyball
The image can't be far from the heads of the men's volleyball seniors, like veteran starters Brandon Denham, Mike Vincent and Phillip Rosenberg. One game from a berth in the EIVA semifinals, Princeton watched NJIT catch fire and roll off three straight wins in a 2008 EIVA quarterfinal; minutes later, the lone senior on that team, Peter Eichler, sat on the bench with stunned tears in his eyes.
The finality of the moment hit him. The Class of 2009 knows there will be a final moment as well; it just doesn't want to experience it at Dillon Gym, and it doesn't want to experience it before the EIVA final four.
Without question, the loss of Eichler, an All-East outside hitter and a terrific clutch performer last season, will hurt the 2009 team. But there is also no question that the potential starting lineup boasts as much experience as any that head coach Glenn Nelson has sent out in recent years. With six upperclassmen, including four seniors, likely to start, Princeton could be poised for one of its more consistent regular seasons in years. And with the lingering memories of a 2008 season cut short, the team is plenty ready to get going with 2009, which begins Monday night at California-Irvine.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
Rosenberg has been a consistent starter on the outside since his sophomore season, but he is entering his first year as the No. 1 option on the outside. He has averaged more than 2.6 kills in each of the last two years, and his hitting percentage improved significantly last year (.205 in 2007 to .260 in 2008). His digs and blocks both took a slight dip, and he will need a well-rounded season for Princeton to be successful.
More importantly, he needs to raise his game in the biggest moments. The passes that once went to Eichler will come his way more often, and in a sport that features so many changes of momentum, he'll have to knock down some timely kills. Rosenberg has shown the ability in the past and carried the team to a handful of wins in the last two years, so he certainly has the potential to do it.
Opposite Rosenberg will likely be sophomore Vincent Tuminelli, who saw minimal action last season but showed his potential when on the court. He averaged 1.85 kills per set and hit .308, the best percentage for a non-middle. The former captain and outstanding senior at Half Hollow Hills West, he led his team to a county title and earned county MVP honors. While the team would like to see good offensive numbers, quality passing and defense will be just as important.
One name to keep in mind is freshman Greg Wilson, a freshman from Santa Monica, Calif. He was an Ocean League MVP and a first-team all-CIF for Santa Monica, and he was a two-time member of the Junior Olympics all-tournament team for the Pacific Palisades club team. At 6-6, he brings height and explosiveness to the court; Nelson is hopeful he can pick up the offense quickly and be a potential early spark if the team needs it.
Harsha Dante, Jeff Zhao and John Morris are also quality outside hitters who will fight for opportunities during the long season.
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
The only returning All-East player for Princeton, Vincent is one of the most experienced middles in the entire league. He has averaged 2.55 kills and 1.03 blocks per set in his career, and he hit a career-best .405 last season (his career average is an impressive .345). A dangerous server as well, Vincent has averaged .21 aces per set in the last two seasons.
Like Rosenberg, Vincent will likely see more passes in big moments. He has posted some impressive numbers throughout his career and could be primed for his best season. His block total went down slightly last season, and Nelson will depend on him to win more free points for the team with his long reach.
Junior Jeff McCown was arguably Princeton's most improved player last season. He led the team with 1.08 blocks per set and hit .399 with 2.29 kills per set. He had five matches last season with double-digit kills and would like to see that number improve in 2009. His blocking numbers improved as the season went on and could combine with Vincent to be one of the premier middle duos in the league.
Senior Cameron Heggi was the first reserve among the middles last season and will likely hold the same role this season. He and Keenan McCarthy are versatile players who could fill various roles when needed.
OPPOSITE PLAYER
Junior Carl Hamming also showed great strides in his second season at Princeton and will be one of the offensive leaders for the team this season. He averaged 2.25 kills per set and finished second on the team in assists (.36). He was at his best in Princeton's best win of the season, a 3-1 victory over eventual EIVA finalist George Mason; he recorded 16 kills and hit .583 for the match. Continued growth in his game could make him one of the most versatile players in the league.
LIBERO
Ka'ohu Berg-Hee returns as the senior starter in this position after averaging 2.11 digs per set, 10th most in the EIVA. He has been a starter for the past two seasons and will need the 2009 season to be his best one. The loss of Eichler not only hurts Princeton offensively, but also its defense; Eichler led Princeton in digs in 2007 and quietly was one of its best defensive players over the last four years. Berg-Hee is athletic and has a good chemistry with Denham, so his passing should be even better this season.
Backing up Berg-Hee will be Dexter Scobee, a former all-state libero for Desert Vista High in Phoenix.
SETTER
Ultimately, a team can't be successful without a talented setter, and Denham has already proven his ability. He has led Princeton in assists in each of the last three seasons, all of which he served as the starting setter, and he ranked second in the league with 12.58 assists per set in 2008. He has improved his assist totals in each of the last three years, and his service ace totals have also improved each year. His dig totals have remained consistent, but his blocking numbers have fallen; an improvement there would be beneficial to the team's success.
More than anything, Denham needs to be a strong leader. He is the only captain on a team that believes it can get back into the EIVA semifinals and could possibly contend for its first championship match since 1998. With a blend of experience and youth, Princeton will need to avoid rough patches, especially on the road. Keeping the team focused on the road and pulling out at least three Tait Division wins would be crucial.
EIVA OUTLOOK
The top team in the EIVA regular season hosts the league semifinals and championship. Penn State has hosted every year since the members of the 2009 team were in elementary school, won the NCAA title in 2008 and is currently ranked No. 1 nationally. Barring anything crazy, it's safe to assume Penn State will host the EIVA final on May 2.
That leaves six teams fighting for positioning behind Penn State. George Mason has been ranked among the Top 15 already this season and was the only team to defeat Penn State last year. The Patriots are the most likely team to finish with either the second or third seed, allowing them to avoid Penn State until the final. Princeton, St. Francis, Springfield, NJIT and Juniata are the remaining teams in the division, and each has the potential to get into one of those top three seeds. Winning road matches has been traditionally tough in the division, so a team that can find a way to go 3-3 away from home could find a way to get out of Penn State's side of the draw.
Princeton will begin its season with four straight matches in California, starting Monday in Irvine, during the break week between the fall and spring semesters. From there, the Tigers will face two important road matches at Juniata (Feb. 6) and at St. Francis (Feb. 7) to start the league season. Those two matches could give a quick indication of just how strong the 2009 Princeton team will be.