Princeton University Athletics
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Tigers Open Key Week With Tuesday Home Match Against Rutgers
February 21, 2011 | Men's Volleyball
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The Princeton men's volleyball team has already dug itself a hole in the EIVA Tait Division, but this week provides two opportunities at home to start climbing out. The first comes Tuesday night, when the Tigers will look to split the season series against Rutgers-Newark.
Princeton has lost five straight matches since returning from California, including each of its first four within the Tait Division. The schedule wasn't a friendly one to the Tigers, who had to open with three road matches in the division before Friday's home match with league unbeaten George Mason. Princeton showed flashes of what it could be during a third-set win over the Patriots, but George Mason was too strong for Princeton in the 3-1 victory.
The winless divisional stretch began Feb. 4, when Princeton lost 3-1 at Rutgers-Newark. Despite 13 kills apiece from senior Vincent Tuminelli and freshman Jeff Stapleton, Princeton lost the final three sets to the Scarlet Raiders, who are currently third in the Tait Division. Princeton swept Rutgers-Newark last season, including a 3-1 home win that featured a 17-kill effort from Tuminelli.
Princeton will complete the week Saturday at 4 p.m. against Springfield College, which is tied with Princeton at 0-4 in divisional play. The top five teams of the six-team division will make the playoffs.