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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Harvard
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Players Mentioned
Rudnick Powers Volleyball To 3-2 Thriller With 32 Kills
October 16, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
Lydia Rudnick came into Friday night's home match with Harvard as the two-time reigning Ivy League Player of the Week. She put forth a strong opening statement for a third such honor in keeping Princeton as the lone unbeaten in the league. Rudnick recorded a career-best 32 kills and added 16 digs and four blocks in a 3-2 thriller over Harvard.
Princeton has made a habit of winning wild comeback matches, but Friday's match might have topped them all. A determined and excited Harvard squad took both games one and three, then fought back in the fifth, but Princeton had the final answer for a 24-26, 25-16, 24-26, 25-21, 16-14 victory. The win improves Princeton to 9-6 overall, 4-0 in the Ivy League.
It was the fourth straight time that Princeton dropped the opening set. Through four Ivy matches, Princeton has trailed 1-0 four times, 2-0 once and 2-1 three times. It has gone the distance in three of its four matches, but it has found a way to win them all.
"We do put pressure on ourselves, but we find ways to overcome them," Rudnick said. "We all have confidence in each other."
They especially had confidence in Rudnick, who recorded her 32 kills on a match-high 73 swings. As the match wore on and her number of points grew, setter Michaela Venuti seemed to find her on most key points.
"The setting was really great tonight," Rudnick said. "Michaela did an amazing job. I was finding holes in the Harvard defense."
Princeton also got key contributions from several other sources. Venuti recorded 60 assists and 14 digs, and she guided the Tigers to a .221 attack percentage; Jennifer Palmquist added 14 kills and hit .407 for the match. Junior Cathryn Quinn recorded 12 kills, while classmate Hillary Ford had a match-high 25 digs.
"Hillary was fantastic tonight," head coach Jolie Ward said. "If not for her passing, this might have been a different result."
Princeton served a match ball at 14-11 in the fifth, but Harvard rallied for three straight points. A service error gave Princeton a fourth match ball, and freshman Sydney Brombal ended the match with her eighth kill.
Princeton will try to remain undefeated Saturday at 4:00 against Dartmouth; the Big Green dropped a 3-2 match to defending Ivy champion Penn Friday night at The Palestra.