Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Penn State
March 28, 2015 | Men's Volleyball
Despite strong hitting performances from senior Cody Kessel and junior Devin Stearns, the Princeton men's volleyball team was unable to slow down the eighth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions during a 3-0 loss in State College. The Tigers played three tight sets, but they were unable to knock off the reigning EIVA champion.
Penn State moved to 11-9, 5-0 in the EIVA, with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-23 victory over Princeton (8-8, 4-2). Princeton nearly pushed the match to a fourth set on Kessel's team-best 12th kill of the match, but Penn State's Chris Nugent took the next point to clinch the win.
Kessel recorded 12 kills, one block, one kill and one assist in the loss, while Stearns — who had one of the best matches of his career in Princeton's victory over the Nittany Lions last year — added 11 kills on 20 swings for a .500 attack percentage. Freshman Kendall Ratter, playing in the first Penn State match of his career, posted seven kills and five digs.
Sophomore Chris Kennedy had 30 assists to go along with three blocks, two kills and two digs, while senior Tony Ensbury had five digs of his own.
Princeton will return to EIVA play Saturday at 4 pm when it takes on Saint Francis.
