Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
St. Francis
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Saint Francis Rallies For 3-1 Victory Over Men's Volleyball Team
March 31, 2012 | Men's Volleyball
It was another marathon fourth set, and another heartbreaking loss for the Princeton men's volleyball team. Saint Francis held off three set balls in the fourth and eventually claimed a 3-1 win at Dillon Gym.
Freshman Cody Kessel led Princeton with 19 kills, while sophomore Jeff Stapleton added 14 kills and a .524 hitting percentage in one of his best performances of the season. Freshman libero Tony Ensbury recorded 12 digs, while outside Davis Waddell added 10 digs and two blocks.
Both middles Michael Dye and Will Siroky recorded seven kills apiece, while Siroky added five blocks. He was part of all of Princeton's blocks in the match, which leaves Princeton in sixth place in the league. Only four teams will reach the EIVA postseason, but there is still opportunity for the Tigers to crash the party. Winning out is mandatory for the Tigers, who still have league matches at home with NJIT and at George Mason.
Princeton took the opening set 25-22, but dropped the middle two 25-23 and 25-20. Princeton fought back from a fourth-set deficit on strong serves from both Dye and Daniel Tien, and the Tigers had three opportunities to push the match to five, but the Red Flash had all the answers. A kill by Alex Kane, who led all players with 24 kills, and a Princeton error ended the match.
Senior setter Scott Liljestrom led Princeton with 43 assists and helped the Tigers hit a remarkable .315 for the match. Unfortunately for the Tigers, who will host non-league rivals NYU and Vassar next weekend, Saint Francis hit .435 in the match.