Princeton University
5-3,0-0EIVA
UC Santa Barbara
3-6,0-0Big West
No. 16 Men's Volleyball Captures Win Over No. 12 UC Santa Barbara at Home, 3-1
January 31, 2024 | Men's Volleyball
PRINCETON, NJ - The No. 16 Princeton men's volleyball team secured its fifth victory of the season against No. 12 UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday night at home, 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-16, 25-21). In a stellar performance, first-year player Jameson Vaccaro dominated the court, delivering an impressive 13 kills against the Guachos. With this win, the Tigers now hold a 5-3 record for the season.
The Princeton Tigers found themselves in a fierce battle against the No. 12 UCSB Gauchos. The tension was palpable as the Tigers started the game with an impressive 4-0 run, showcasing consecutive kills from Ben Harrington, Gavin Leising, and then Nyherowo Omene. Vaccaro's crucial block widened the Tiger's lead to 8-3, setting the tone for Princeton's dominance.
The Tigers continued to roar, with an emphatic kill from Omene pushing the score to 13-7. At one point, they led by a commanding 17-8. However, the Gauchos were not ready to surrender easily.
In a turn of events, the Gauchos initiated a comeback, narrowing the gap to 18-15. Just when it seemed like momentum was slipping away, Vena's powerful kill gave the Tigers a much-needed six-point cushion. The first set concluded with Harrington's second service ace of the night, sealing the victory at 25-18, with Nyherowo Omene leading the charge with 6 kills.
The second set saw a shift in dynamics, with UCSB taking their first lead at 6-4. The battle intensified, reaching a nail-biting 19-17 in favor of the Gauchos. The Tigers, however, fought tooth and nail, leveling the score at 21. Despite a valiant effort, they ultimately lost the set 26-24.
Determined to regain control, the Tigers stormed into the third set, establishing a commanding 13-6 lead. Holding onto a six-point advantage at 19-13, they secured the set with a convincing score of 25-16.
As the fourth set unfolded, the Tigers faced a challenging moment, trailing 19-16. Undeterred, they rallied back, with Henry Wedbush's ace turning the tide and giving Princeton a 20-19 lead. Omene's powerful kill and Wedbush's second ace further solidified their advantage, leading to a triumphant 25-21 victory in the fourth set.
The Princeton Tigers emerged victorious, clinching the match with a 3-1 set victory.
Shweisky's Remarks
"I'm really excited by what we put together as a team tonight," said head coach Sam Shweisky. "It's great to have a first-year player like Vaccaro who can step up for us and really deliver in an important way. I can't wait to see how this team performs at home again this Friday."
Up Next
The Princeton men's volleyball team will host Pepperdine at Dillon Gym on Feb. 2 (Fri.) at 4:00 PM.
