Princeton University Athletics
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Volleyball Opens Huge Week With Home Showdown Against Stevens Tech
April 07, 2010 | Men's Volleyball
If you are planning to head to tonight's men's volleyball match at Dillon Gym against Stevens Tech, here's hoping you don't have plans for afterwards. If the past is any indication, you aren't going anywhere until about 9:30 tonight.
Dillon Gym has been a house of marathon horrors for opposing teams this season. The Princeton men's volleyball team, currently in second place in the EIVA Tait standings, definitely has two home matches remaining, and with a good weekend upcoming, can assure itself a third on April 24.
Tonight's match against Stevens Tech may not carry any weight in the EIVA postseason, but almost every home match this season has been as dramatic as possible. The Ducks, who are playing their regular season finale tonight, are 19-11 on the season and recently went five sets with another Tait Division squad, Juniata. Juniors SteFan PremDas, Brandt Grobeis and Timothy Karl each earned all-division honors for Stevens Tech.
Following tonight's match, Princeton will hit the road for a pair of Tait Division matches. The Tigers will clinch a spot in the postseason with one victory and will clinch the No. 2 seed with two wins; on the flip side, two losses and a disastrous set of circumstances — none of which would be huge upsets — could leave Princeton on the outside of a five-way tie of teams with 4-6 records.
The weekend starts in Juniata on Friday night; Princeton trailed the Eagles 2-0 earlier in the season before rallying to win the final three sets, including a 15-13 win in the fifth. Junior Vincent Tuminelli led all players with 24 kills in the victory.
Princeton's final Tait match will be a rescheduled showdown with George Mason, which was postponed from Feb. 6 because of the winter blizzards. Freshman Pat Schwagler's 24 kills and sophomore Scott Liljestrom's 73 assists helped Princeton to a 17-15 comeback win in another five-set classic.