Princeton University Athletics
Friday, February 10
Princeton, N.J.
7:00 PM
Princeton University
vs
Saint Francis
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Men's VolleyballPhoto by: Beverly Schaefer
Youthful Tigers Face Tough Early Tests During EIVA-Opening Weekend
February 07, 2017 | Men's Volleyball
WATCH: Veterans Ready To Lead Young Tigers Into EIVA Season
MATCH LINKS: Live Video l Live Stats
One of the most interesting EIVA regular seasons for the Princeton men's volleyball team in quite some time will begin this weekend with a pair of daunting home matches for the Tigers, who have been tested by three nationally ranked programs and played in three different time zones in preparation for the upcoming season.
Princeton (2-5, 0-0 EIVA) will host Saint Francis (4-6, 0-1) Friday at 7 pm, and then will host #14 Penn State (6-4, 1-0) Saturday at 7 pm to open conference play. Both matches will be streamed live on the Ivy League Digital Network (links for live streams and live stats can be found above).
What makes this season so interesting for Princeton is its potential for significant development from the start of the season to the finish. The Tigers will likely start three members of their seventh-ranked recruiting class, as well as a handful of others who either didn't start last season or who played in different positions, so finding early chemistry could take a bit longer than head coach Sam Shweisky would like.
Shweisky has tried to accelerate the process by testing Princeton during the first month; the Tigers have played three nationally ranked teams, and they even held match balls against 15th-ranked Ball State in a 3-2 loss. However, injuries didn't allow Shweisky to see his projected starting lineup until a California trip during break week. While the team went 0-3, there have been several positive signs early in the season:
• the offense has shown balance — the top four Princeton players are separated by a total of 10.5 points for the season
• junior Kendall Ratter, who hasn't hit above .200 in each of his first two seasons, is hitting .339 on the young season, and he is just outside the EIVA Top 10 with 2.8 kills per set
• Junior Oboh has brought a much stronger defensive presence at the net; he ranks fifth in the EIVA with .87 blocks per set this season
• freshman middle George Huhmann had 24 total kills in his first five matches, and he recorded 24 total in his last two, including a season-high 13 at Concordia
• both freshman outsides Parker Dixon and Greg Luck has posted multiple double-digit kill efforts already this season
He hopes the growth they experienced in California will find its way back to Dillon Gym this weekend. Saint Francis returns the majority of a lineup that became the first to defeat Penn State in the EIVA postseason in 18 years. The Red Flash shocked the Nittany Lions in the EIVA semifinal, though they fell to George Mason in the championship match. Michael Fisher ranks second in the EIVA with 4.09 kills per set.
Penn State is 6-4 on the season, and it already owns a conference win over Saint Francis. The Nittany Lions are as balanced as ever; they are the only team to rank in the EIVA Top 3 in kills, digs and blocks.
MATCH LINKS: Live Video l Live Stats
One of the most interesting EIVA regular seasons for the Princeton men's volleyball team in quite some time will begin this weekend with a pair of daunting home matches for the Tigers, who have been tested by three nationally ranked programs and played in three different time zones in preparation for the upcoming season.
Princeton (2-5, 0-0 EIVA) will host Saint Francis (4-6, 0-1) Friday at 7 pm, and then will host #14 Penn State (6-4, 1-0) Saturday at 7 pm to open conference play. Both matches will be streamed live on the Ivy League Digital Network (links for live streams and live stats can be found above).
| WATCH: Veteran ready to lead young teammates into EIVA opening weekend. |
What makes this season so interesting for Princeton is its potential for significant development from the start of the season to the finish. The Tigers will likely start three members of their seventh-ranked recruiting class, as well as a handful of others who either didn't start last season or who played in different positions, so finding early chemistry could take a bit longer than head coach Sam Shweisky would like.
Shweisky has tried to accelerate the process by testing Princeton during the first month; the Tigers have played three nationally ranked teams, and they even held match balls against 15th-ranked Ball State in a 3-2 loss. However, injuries didn't allow Shweisky to see his projected starting lineup until a California trip during break week. While the team went 0-3, there have been several positive signs early in the season:
• the offense has shown balance — the top four Princeton players are separated by a total of 10.5 points for the season
• junior Kendall Ratter, who hasn't hit above .200 in each of his first two seasons, is hitting .339 on the young season, and he is just outside the EIVA Top 10 with 2.8 kills per set
• Junior Oboh has brought a much stronger defensive presence at the net; he ranks fifth in the EIVA with .87 blocks per set this season
• freshman middle George Huhmann had 24 total kills in his first five matches, and he recorded 24 total in his last two, including a season-high 13 at Concordia
• both freshman outsides Parker Dixon and Greg Luck has posted multiple double-digit kill efforts already this season
He hopes the growth they experienced in California will find its way back to Dillon Gym this weekend. Saint Francis returns the majority of a lineup that became the first to defeat Penn State in the EIVA postseason in 18 years. The Red Flash shocked the Nittany Lions in the EIVA semifinal, though they fell to George Mason in the championship match. Michael Fisher ranks second in the EIVA with 4.09 kills per set.
Penn State is 6-4 on the season, and it already owns a conference win over Saint Francis. The Nittany Lions are as balanced as ever; they are the only team to rank in the EIVA Top 3 in kills, digs and blocks.
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