Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
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Late Rally Sends Volleyball Past NJIT To Conclude Long Homestand
March 08, 2015 | Men's Volleyball
BOX SCORE
Trailing 8-3 in the fifth set, the Princeton men's volleyball team made the final run it needed to stay within one match of Penn State in the EIVA standings. The Tigers won 12 of the final 15 points, including four on kills by senior Cody Kessel, to rally for a 3-2 victory over NJIT.
Junior Devin Stearns had the best match of his season, recording a career-best 20 kills in the 19-25, 26-28, 25-23, 25-13, 15-11 win over NJIT. The Tigers improved to 4-1 in the EIVA, while NJIT remained winless (0-5).
The Highlanders did everything they could to break into the win column. Following a 25-19 win in the first set, they fought off three Princeton set points before earning the 28-26 win. NJIT led 11-7 in the third, but Junior Oboh served the Tigers on a 5-0 run that kept them in the match, and he added a kill on set ball to get Princeton back to 2-1.
The Tigers cruised in the fourth set, but NJIT got out to an 8-3 lead in the fifth. When the Tigers switched sides, they also switched to the team that ascended to No. 13 in the national rankings last month. Two kills by Kessel were part of an immediate 4-0 run, and Stearns recorded his 20th kill to give the Tigers their first lead of the set (12-11).
A triple block and a service ace by setter Chris Kennedy gave Princeton a match ball, and Kessel recorded his 16th kill to clinch the win.
Kennedy had 47 assists in the win, while senior libero Tony Ensbury added 10 digs. Both Oboh and senior middle Will Siroky had six kills and five blocks apiece, and Oboh added three service aces.
Following a six-match homestand, Princeton will now play its next six on the road, including four against teams that have been ranked in the Top 15 this season. That stretch starts during the middle of next week when the Tigers head to Ohio State and Ball State.