Princeton University Athletics
Saturday, March 31
Princeton, N.J.
7:00 PM
Princeton University
vs
George Mason
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Princeton Opens EIVA Sprint, Closes Home Schedule vs. EIVA Leader George Mason
March 30, 2018 | Men's Volleyball
If you've followed the 2018 Princeton volleyball season, you know it's a story that has opened with two very different chapters.
Chapter 3 starts Saturday night, and it's a big one. In fact, it will ultimately decide if there is a Chapter 4 at all.
Princeton (9-12, 5-4 EIVA) is in the closing stretch of its regular season, a five-match run of EIVA opponents that begins tonight at Dillon Gym. The Tigers host the EIVA frontrunners, George Mason, before embarking on a four-match road trip to close the regular season.
MATCH LINKS
Princeton opened the season with only one win in its first 12 matches, including a 3-0 road loss to the Patriots in mid-February. With their season hanging by a thread, the Tigers responded with wins in eight of their next nine matches, including four straight home wins in EIVA play. The highlight, obviously, was the 3-2 comeback win over Penn State, but when you start in a deep hole, every victory matters.
George Mason, Penn State and Harvard all seem in good position to grab the first three bids to the EIVA playoffs, which could mean that the fourth spot goes down to the final day and a showdown between Princeton and Saint Francis in Loretto, Pa. Of course, Princeton would love to clinch well before that, and the Tigers could take a big step Saturday with a win over a Mason team that entered the weekend undefeated in the EIVA (the Patriots play at NJIT Friday night).
This match could also feature arguably the top two contenders for EIVA Player of the Year honors. Mason's Hayden Wagner, who hit .400 with nine kills in their home win over Princeton, currently leads the league in both points (4.4) and kills (3.6) per set. Princeton opposite George Huhmann, who swept both EIVA weekly honors following the Penn State win and added an Offensive honor after a NJIT sweep, is tied for the EIVA lead in points (4.4), ranks third in kills (3.46), and fifth in blocks (1.02).
Huhmann is one spot behind teammate Junior Oboh in blocks; a four-year starter for Princeton, Oboh joins classmates Mike Fuerst and Trey Sickler in playing their final matches in Dillon Gym Saturday night.
Chapter 3 starts Saturday night, and it's a big one. In fact, it will ultimately decide if there is a Chapter 4 at all.
Princeton (9-12, 5-4 EIVA) is in the closing stretch of its regular season, a five-match run of EIVA opponents that begins tonight at Dillon Gym. The Tigers host the EIVA frontrunners, George Mason, before embarking on a four-match road trip to close the regular season.
MATCH LINKS
| Live Video | Live Stats | EIVA Standings |
Princeton opened the season with only one win in its first 12 matches, including a 3-0 road loss to the Patriots in mid-February. With their season hanging by a thread, the Tigers responded with wins in eight of their next nine matches, including four straight home wins in EIVA play. The highlight, obviously, was the 3-2 comeback win over Penn State, but when you start in a deep hole, every victory matters.
George Mason, Penn State and Harvard all seem in good position to grab the first three bids to the EIVA playoffs, which could mean that the fourth spot goes down to the final day and a showdown between Princeton and Saint Francis in Loretto, Pa. Of course, Princeton would love to clinch well before that, and the Tigers could take a big step Saturday with a win over a Mason team that entered the weekend undefeated in the EIVA (the Patriots play at NJIT Friday night).
This match could also feature arguably the top two contenders for EIVA Player of the Year honors. Mason's Hayden Wagner, who hit .400 with nine kills in their home win over Princeton, currently leads the league in both points (4.4) and kills (3.6) per set. Princeton opposite George Huhmann, who swept both EIVA weekly honors following the Penn State win and added an Offensive honor after a NJIT sweep, is tied for the EIVA lead in points (4.4), ranks third in kills (3.46), and fifth in blocks (1.02).
Huhmann is one spot behind teammate Junior Oboh in blocks; a four-year starter for Princeton, Oboh joins classmates Mike Fuerst and Trey Sickler in playing their final matches in Dillon Gym Saturday night.
Players Mentioned
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