Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Penn State
Players Mentioned
Seventh-Ranked Penn State Serves Past Tigers 3-1 In Front Of Packed Dillon
April 18, 2015 | Men's Volleyball
BOX SCORE
The Princeton men's volleyball team has believed in a philosophy of going for every serve this season. The better-serving team won Friday night in front of 1,745 loud fans at Dillon Gym, but that team was the seventh-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
Penn State, which has already clinched the EIVA regular season title, overcame a thrilling Princeton comeback in the opener to post a 25-27, 25-19, 25-21, 25-15 victory Friday night over the Tigers. The Nittany Lions had two more service aces (8-6) and 12 fewer service errors (26-14), and that made all the difference, especially in the critical third set.
After Penn State had evened the match 25-19 in the second set, Princeton grabbed an early lead in the third and played terrific defensive volleyball most of the way to hold off several Penn State rallies. The Tigers couldn't build on the lead due to 10 serving errors in the set, and a long service run by All-America Aaron Russell finally gave Penn State a late lead. The Nittany Lions rode the momentum to a 25-21 victory, and held total control in the fourth set to claim the win.
The match featured a showdown of two of the NCAA's three leading hitters, and neither disappointed. Russell currently ranks second nationally and recorded 14 kills and 20 points, but Princeton senior Cody Kessel (ranked third nationally) was more than up for the challenge. He had 17 kills, seven digs, four service aces and a block for a match-high 22 points.
Junior Devin Stearns added eight kills and five blocks, while sophomore Junior Oboh had four kills and five blocks. Senior Will Siroky had six kills and hit .417 in the match, while sophomore Chris Kennedy had 35 assists and five digs.
The loss and a Harvard win over George Mason drops the Tigers to third in the EIVA by a half game, but the only thing Princeton is worried about is finishing in the top four and qualifying for the EIVA postseason for a fourth straight year. That task will be determined in the final two matches of the season, a stretch that begins Saturday night at Dillon Gym against Saint Francis. The Red Flash, which fell 3-1 at NJIT Friday night, are currently the first team out of the playoffs, but they can draw even with Princeton tomorrow.
The Tigers will conclude their season next Friday night at George Mason, which is currently fourth in the league.