Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Volleyball Hopes Youth, Experience Balance For Successful 2010 Season
January 15, 2010 | Men's Volleyball
Senior co-captains Jeff McCown and Carl Hamming have been consistent figures in the Princeton men's volleyball lineup for several years. Almost everything around them, from the coach to a handful of starters, is brand new this season; how quickly Princeton finds chemistry on the court will go a long way in determining the program's ultimate success in 2010.
Sam Shweisky became the second head coach ever for Princeton men's volleyball, and he has brought both enthusiasm and energy to the position that opened when Glenn Nelson retired last summer. He has worked hard, including setting up a home preseason tournament, to develop on-court chemistry between a team that could start as many as three freshmen. On Monday, when the team opens 2010 with a three-match road trip in California, which includes a showdown against reigning NCAA champion Cal-Irvine, Shweisky will get an early sense on just how far the team has come. And he'll get a sense on how far it needs to go in hopes of claiming one of the top three seeds in the EIVA tournament (the second and third seeds avoid the Penn State half of the draw).
A position-by-position look at the Princeton volleyball team heading into the 2010 season:
OUTSIDE HITTER
Junior Vincent Tuminelli was a full-time starter last season and averaged 2.6 kills and 1.6 digs per set. With a year of experience, Tuminelli will now be expected to take an even bigger role on the offense and potentially assume the role of go-to hitter in tight situations. Tuminelli had several big games in 2009, but greater consistency will be necessary this season. Tuminelli is also an emotional leader for Princeton, and with so much youth on the floor, his energy and leadership could carry the Tigers through tough matches, especially on the road.
The opening night starter opposite of Tuminelli will be freshman Pat Schwagler, an Orchard Park, N.Y. native who earned All-America honors in high school and played for the junior national team. He has impressed Shweisky with his hitting abilities, including from the back row, and will be given opportunities to hit from all areas of the court. Shweisky isn't going to bring Schwagler along slowly; the freshman will be called on early and often to score points for Princeton.
Freshmen Sean Cotter and Greg Wilson both have opportunities to earn time on the outside, especially should either of the starters struggle. Both were All-CIF performers in high school who bring different strengths to the court. Cotter is a strong defender and passer, which make him a candidate for the starting libero position, while Wilson is 6-6 and brings a stronger defensive presence at the net.
MIDDLE BLOCKER
For years, teams have seen one of two players in the middle for Princeton: McCown or Mike Vincent. They will still see both this season, but Vincent will be on the bench serving as a graduate assistant coach. That leaves McCown, an intelligent and driven player who ranked second on the team last season in both hitting percentage and blocks. McCown hit .383 last season with 2.7 kills per set; if he can move those numbers to .400 and 3.0 this year, he could turn into one of the best middles in the league.
Michael Dye will be yet another freshman starter with junior national team experience. A teammate of Schwagler last year, Dye led Loyola to 2009 CIF Section I, state and national championship as a middle blocker and opposite. While his physical abilities are unquestioned, Shweisky loves his volleyball IQ and experience in high-level volleyball. He shouldn't be fazed by the collegiate game and fills a huge void left by the graduation of Vincent.
The first reserve for Princeton is sophomore Keenan McCarthy, who has shown some positive signs in the preseason and did gain some experience last season. While McCarthy is not quite at the level of the two starters yet, his rate of development could be huge for Princeton both this season and beyond. If he can earn quality time in the middle, it would allow Shweisky to experiment some with Dye at the opposite.
OPPOSITE
Getting Dye time at that position might be better served next season, since Hamming brings both talent and experience to the position in 2010. A two-year starter, Hamming even earned playing time there as a freshman, so there is little he hasn't seen. He led all returning players with 2.8 kills per set last season, and he also recorded .73 blocks per set. With a new setter in the mix, Hamming will need to be Mr. Versatility for the offense, but he has the skill set and leadership to handle that responsibility.
SETTER
Fans of Princeton men's volleyball are well aware of a couple names: Liljestrom and Denham. Liljestrom is the last name of two former men's volleyball players, Jason '04 and R.J. '07. The former was a long-time setter at Princeton, as was Brandon Denham, who was Princeton's starter each of the last four years. Another Liljestrom is in the mix to take over for Denham, as Scott Liljestrom will earn his first collegiate start next week in California. A first-team All-CIF setter and former league MVP, Liljestrom will need to develop quick chemistry with his entire lineup. Because Princeton doesn't necessarily have a go-to hitter right now, Liljestrom will need to make good decisions and spread the ball around to maximize the offensive depth. John Morris moved to the setter position to give Princeton a bit of depth, but this team's ultimate success will largely be determined by Liljestrom's play this season.
LIBERO
Cotter and Reid Fritz have been neck and neck for the starting libero position, and both will likely see some time in California. Cotter has a stronger volleyball background, but Fritz has impressed at practice and has earned the opportunity to see time in matches. Either way, Shweisky will feel good about the defensive presence anchoring the back line for Princeton.