Men’s Volleyball Earns First Win of the Season at UCSB

Wednesday, January 19

Santa Barbara, Calif.

6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT

Princeton University

1-3,0-0EIVA

UCSB

1-3,0-0Big West

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Princeton	22	25	31	25	3
UC Santa Barbara	25	18	29	13	1

Photo by: Photo: Peterhans Photography

Men’s Volleyball Earns First Win of the Season at UCSB

January 19, 2022 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF – Junior Nate Thompson had a career-high 11 kills, along with an outstanding .556 hitting percentage, as the Princeton University men's volleyball team defeated the UCSB Gauchos 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 31-29, 25-13), Wednesday night inside Robinson Gymnasium.

Two other Tigers finished with double digit kills, as Ben Harrington contributed a season-high 14 kills with a .346 hitting percentage to boot, while Nyherowo Omene added 10 kills. First year Henry Wedbush tallied 33 assists and tied fellow classmate Matt Suh for a game-high in digs with nine.

The opening set was hotly contested and featured eight ties and three lead changes. The Tigers would go ahead 5-4, then tie the game at 13 apiece. Princeton would trail the rest of the way, however, surrendering the first set 22-25.

The second set stayed tight, the Tigers and Gauchos knotted at eight all. A Nate Thompson kill started Princeton on a 5-0 run, giving the black and orange a 13-8 lead. An ace by Nyherowo Omene would make the score 19-12, putting the Tigers ahead by seven. UCSB would get no closer, Princeton taking the second set 25-18.

Princeton got out to a 4-2 lead in the third set, but the Gauchos made up ground, tying the game at nine. A block by Nate Thompson fueled three straight points for the Tigers, putting Princeton up 12-9. UCSB would make up that deficit as well, pulling even with the Tigers at 15 apiece. The game remained close, and featured four more ties before the Tigers had two set point chances.

Princeton was unable to cash in, and entered into a tiebreaker. UCSB would have two chances to put away the Tigers, but Princeton fought back and took a 29-28 lead. The Gauchos would answer back but the Tigers would not squander a second opportunity. A Ben Harrington kill and UCSB attacking error sealed the third set for the Tigers, 31-29.

With the momentum now firmly on their side, the Tigers would race out to a 5-2 lead, aided by a a 4-0 run. UCSB would stay within three points until two Nate Thompson kills would spark the Tigers to win six of the next seven points. At 18-9, the match was all but over for the Gauchos. The Tigers would go on another 4-0 run to clinch their first win of the season.

Up Next
The Tigers will return to Princeton, New Jersey to host Daemen College on Sunday, January 23 at 2:00 PM inside Dillion Gym.