Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Rutgers-Newark
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Volleyball Goes The Distance In EIVA Road Victory At Rutgers-Newark
February 18, 2012 | Men's Volleyball
Senior Scott Liljestrom has been guiding the Princeton offense for more than two seasons as the starting setter. Friday night, in a key road win at Rutgers-Newark, it was Liljestrom's late defense that stole the show. His two blocks late in the fifth set pushed Princeton to a 3-2 comeback win over the Scarlet Raiders.
The 22-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory improves Princeton to 3-3 overall, 2-1 in EIVA play. As a point of comparison, Princeton won only three total matches last season, and only one came in divisional play.
Head coach Sam Shweisky talked about a new year and a new energy in the preseason, and he is clearly getting it. Freshman Cody Kessel led Princeton again with 19 kills, while junior opposite Michael Dye added 13 kills and a .409 attack percentage. Freshman middle Will Siroky had 10 kills with only one error (.474), and he had three blocks.
But it was Liljestrom who keyed Princeton's second EIVA road win of the season. He recorded 45 assists and two digs, but it was two of his four blocks that played such a critical role. After a kill from Austin Pappas got Newark back to 11-11 in the fifth, Dye recorded his 13th kill to open a 12-11 Princeton lead.
Rutgers went back to Pappas on the next point, but Siroky and Liljestrom teamed for a block that opened a two-point lead. Liljestrom followed with a solo block against Manuel Felipez to get the lead to 14-11. Rutgers got one back, but Siroky finished the match with his 10th kill.
Princeton will complete an eight-match road trip to start its season next weekend when it travels to Penn State and Saint Francis.