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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Harvard
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Volleyball Completes Thrilling Sweep Weekend With 3-1 Victory Over Harvard
November 15, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
Senior Sheena Donohue finished one of the best weekends of her career with a 25-kill effort to lead the Princeton volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Harvard Saturday afternoon at Dillon Gym. The win avenges a 3-2 loss at Harvard earlier in the year and assures Princeton a third-place finish in the Ivy League, an impressive feat considering the slow start to the Tiger season.
Donohue recorded 25 kills, 11 digs and hit .386 during four tense sets in an alumni-packed Dillon Gym. The Senior Day turnout witnessed Princeton move to 11-13 overall, 9-4 in the Ivy League, with a 25-27, 26-24, 25-22, 25-23 win over Harvard; the Crimson, coming off an impressive five-set win at Penn Friday night, fell to 12-13 overall, 8-6 in the Ivy League.
Freshman Lydia Rudnick recorded 18 kills and 10 digs, while senior rightside Taylor Carroll recorded 13 kills, five digs and hit .357 for the match. Freshman Jennifer Palmquist killed five balls and hit .556 for the match, while sophomore Cathryn Quinn recorded eight kills. Both setters had strong nights, as sophomore Michaela Venuti recorded 42 assists and freshman Molly Bagshaw added 26 assists. Sophomore libero Hillary Ford led all players with 31 digs.
The Crimson opened the match with a two-point win, but Princeton battled back in the second and held a late 22-20 lead before Harvard won four of the next six points. With the set tied at 24, Carroll gave Princeton a set point with a kill. A Harvard error gave Princeton the 26-24 win. The Crimson built a 13-10 in the third set, but Princeton fought back and created a one-point see-saw through a 22-22 score. Rudnick killed two balls at that point and a Harvard error ended the set at 25-22.
Another strong start for Harvard gave the Crimson a 12-8 lead during the fourth set, but the Tigers showed the same resolve they had all weekend and again battled back. A Carroll kill evened the match at 16 and ignited a 5-0 run by the Tigers, which ended with a combo block by Carroll and Quinn. Harvard battled back again and forced a 22-22 tie, but Donohue was not about to allow the Crimson to force a fifth set. Two blistering kills after a 23-22 lead ended the match and set off the second straight jubilant celebration in as many nights.
Princeton has now won eight of its last nine matches and will end its season Wednesday night at Penn.