Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Rutgers-Newark
Players Mentioned
Volleyball Moves To .500 With Home Win Over Rutgers
February 20, 2010 | Men's Volleyball
Dominant hitting from middles Jeff McCown and Michael Dye, along with strong service runs by outsides Vincent Tuminelli and Pat Schwagler, helped the Princeton men's volleyball team defeat Rutgers-Newark 3-1 Friday night and move to the .500 mark for the first time this season.
Princeton, which has won four of its last five matches, overcame a sluggish start in the opening set to defeat Rutgers-Newark 30-26, 30-28, 27-30, 30-24.
Both McCown and Dye led the Tigers with 13 kills and only one error; McCown led the team with a .750 attack percentage and recorded 10 blocks (two solo, eight assisted). Tuminelli led all Princeton players with 17 kills, while Schwagler added 14 kills, six blocks and a match-best four aces. During the first-set rally, both Tuminelli and Schwagler had long service runs that either got Princeton back even or forged a big lead for the home team.
As for the middles, this is the second strong match in a row for the McCown-Dye duo. While head coach Sam Shweisky was excited by their performances, he pointed out that the credit goes beyond just the two of them.
"That is really a testament to the passing of Sean Cotter, who allowed Scott Liljestrom to set our middles," Shweisky said of his libero and setter, respectively. "Sean did a great job tonight, and Scott was versatile in his sets."
Liljestrom ended the match with 60 assists and helped the Tigers to a .431 attack percentage for the night, including a brilliant .696 performance in the decisive fourth set.
Princeton will now move into the heart of Tait Division play, and it doesn't start easily. The 11-time reigning EIVA champion Penn State Nittany Lions will invade Dillon Gym Friday night at 7 p.m.