Princeton University Athletics
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Men's Volleyball Takes On Rutgers-Newark Friday At Dillon
February 17, 2010 | Men's Volleyball
With three victories in its last four matches, the Princeton men's volleyball team will host Rutgers-Newark Friday night at 7 p.m. in its last non-division match for more than five weeks.
Princeton is 3-4 overall, 0-1 in Tait Division play, and will look to remain unbeaten at home when it takes on the Scarlet Raiders. In their only match at Dillon Gym this season, the Tigers rallied from a 2-1 deficit against a gritty NYU team and claimed a 3-2 victory on Feb. 9.
Princeton has defeated Rutgers five straight times, including a 3-0 victory in the EIVA championships last year. Princeton hit .322 in that match and won 30-26, 30-27, 30-22.
The Tigers have been led this season by the stellar hitting of outsides Vincent Tuminelli and Pat Schwagler, as well as rightside starter Carl Hamming. Each of the three has at least 80 kills this season, with Tuminelli leading the way with 98 through seven matches. Tuminelli also has a team-best .347 attack percentage, an impressive feat for a non-middle.
Princeton did get strong production out of the middle in its win over Harvard last Saturday. Starters Jeff McCown and Michael Dye both recorded eight kills and hit at least .571 during the 3-0 victory over the Crimson. As a team, Princeton hit .370 for the match; on the season, the Tigers are hitting .309.
Rutgers-Newark is 1-8 on the season, but the record is not an accurate indication of the overall talent on the Scarlet Raiders' bench. Rutgers has lost five of its eight matches 3-2, including losses against Tait Division squads Saint Francis and Springfield. Rutgers' lone win of the season was a 3-0 road victory at NYU.
Following Friday night's match, Princeton will prepare for its first full divisional weekend. On Friday, the Tigers will host 11-time reigning EIVA champion Penn State at 7 p.m. The Nittany Lions are 10-2 on the season and ranked ninth nationally. On Saturday at 7 p.m., Princeton hosts Saint Francis at 7 p.m. in a match that will likely have long-term implications on the EIVA playoffs.