Princeton University
2-1,0-0EIVA
UC Irvine
2-1,0-0Big West
Men's Volleyball Drops Match To No. 3 UC Irvine, 3-1
January 13, 2024 | Men's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. - The Princeton men's volleyball team fell to No.3 UC Irvine Saturday night at Crawford 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 19-25, 18-25) The Tigers were able to capture the first set of the night but ultimately conceded the following three sets.
In the opening set, Princeton dominated early with a 5-2 lead, thanks to a kill by Ryan Vena. Nyherowo Omene's service ace extended the Tigers' advantage to 8-4, maintaining a four-point lead until UC Irvine fought back, narrowing the gap to two points.
However, back-to-back service errors allowed Princeton to reclaim a 13-11 lead.
The Tigers then surged ahead with consecutive Omene kills, both assisted by Henry Wedbush, establishing a 17-12 lead. Owen Mellon's service ace further extended the lead to 17-12, and the Tigers continued their momentum, finishing the set 25-20 with a decisive kill from Nyherowo Omene, who led the set with 5 kills.
The second set saw a reversal of fortunes as UC Irvine seized control, surging to an 18-11 lead. Their dominance continued, reaching a 22-13 advantage with the team's 8th service ace.
Although Princeton mounted a late 3-0 scoring run, they couldn't overcome the deficit, ultimately falling 25-17 in the second set.
UCI took control in the start of the third set, surging to a commanding 7-0 lead. Gavin Leising managed to break their momentum with a kill, securing the second point of the set for the Tigers.
However, UCI maintained their offensive prowess, holding a solid 15-4 lead as the Tigers struggled to find a solution.
In a resilient effort, Princeton orchestrated a 4-0 run, narrowing the deficit to 8 points before a fiercely contested volley brought an end to their streak. Vena and Mellon then unleashed consecutive kills, cutting UCI's lead to 18-10.
The Tigers staged another impressive 4-0 run, cutting the margin to just 5 at 20-15. Despite their comeback attempt, the Tigers conceded too many points early in the set. As a result, UCI claimed the set 25-19, seizing the advantage in the match.
Princeton battled in the third set but ultimately fell 25-18.
Important Stat Leaders
- Points: Nyherowo Omene - 13.5
- Service Aces: Ben Harrington - 3
- Kills: Nyherwo Omene - 11
- Digs: Henry Wedbush - 8
- Assists: Henry Wedbush - 27
Up Next
The Princeton men's volleyball team will face the University of California San Diego on January 16th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT
