.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Penn
Players Mentioned
Penn Rallies For 3-2 Thriller, Clinches Share Of Ivy Volleyball Title
November 18, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
In a match that saw four sets go extra time and a fifth that featured match balls for both teams, the Penn Quakers rallied for a 3-2 win Wednesday night at Dillon Gym to clinch a share of the Ivy League title with Yale. Princeton received a career night from Liz McStravick, who recorded a career-best 14 kills in her final career match.
Despite the fact that only one team was playing for a share of the title, both teams created an atmosphere worthy of a championship match. The Quakers fought off four match balls to ultimately claim a 25-22, 25-27, 24-26, 29-27, 16-14 victory in front of an excited and appreciative crowd at Dillon Gym.
Sophomore Lydia Rudnick led Princeton with 21 kills, while junior Cathryn Quinn maintained her strong play with 18 kills and six blocks. McStravick, who nearly ended the match in four sets but saw her hit sail inches long, added seven blocks to her 14 kills and hit .323 for the match.
Both teams played standout defense, recording more than 100 digs apiece. Princeton junior Hillary Ford led the Tigers with 30 digs, while senior CC Lobben recorded 21. Junior setter Michaela Venuti recorded 68 assists, 20 digs, five kills and four blocks, while freshman Chelsea Parker came off the bench to record 11 kills and 10 digs.
After a Rudnick kill ended the second set, Princeton rallied for eight of the final nine points to win a 26-24 thriller in the third. With the score even at 24, Quinn recorded back-to-back kills to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
The Tigers fought off a set ball at 24-23 in the fourth and ultimately served three times for the match, but the Quakers sided out each time. Consecutive kills by Julie Swanson at 27-all forced a fifth and decisive set.
Princeton raced out to a 7-3 lead in the fifth, but the Quakers bounced back with the next three points and eventually evened the set at 8. The set would be tied five more times, but Penn scored the final two to win the match and force a Sunday playoff with Yale for the NCAA automatic bid.