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Juniata Ends Volleyball Win Streak With 3-2 Thriller
February 21, 2009 | Men's Volleyball
Despite 21 kills from junior middle Jeff McCown, the Princeton men's volleyball team saw its four-match win streak come to an end in a 3-2 home loss to Juniata College. The loss drops Princeton to 5-5 overall, 2-2 in the division, while Juniata improved to 7-3, 4-2.
Princeton won the first set 30-21 before dropping 30-28 and 30-27 sets to fall into a 2-1 hole. The Tigers fought off one match ball in the fourth before rallying for a 31-29 victory, but Juniata used a surge midway through the fifth to win a comfortable 15-10 decision.
McCown led all players with 21 kills and added six blocks, while fellow middle Mike Vincent recorded 17 kills without an error and added five aces and five blocks. Both outside hitters Phil Rosenberg and Vincent Tuminelli recorded 15 kills, while senior setter Brandon Denham recorded 66 assists and 10 digs. Rosenberg led all players with 17 digs in the loss.
Juniata had more balanced hitting throughout the match; the Eagles never hit below .200 in any set and limited Princeton to a .000 attack percentage in the final set. The Eagle win completes a tough road trip, as it followed a 3-1 victory at George Mason on Thursday night. At 4-2, Juniata is now in the driver's seat for one of the two EIVA postseason double-byes and a trip into the league semifinals.
Princeton will return to the court Saturday night for a 7 p.m. showdown with Springfield College.