Women's Volleyball Falls In Five Set Battles To Duke & St. John's

Friday, September 13

University Park, Pa.

10:00 AM

Princeton University

2-2,0-0Ivy League

Duke

4-3,0-0ACC

Duke

Princeton

Women's Volleyball Falls In Five Set Battles To Duke & St. John's

September 13, 2024 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – One day, two five-set battles. That was the story of the first day of the Penn State Invitational for the Princeton University women's volleyball team Friday at Rec Hall as the Tigers fell just short to Duke, 3-2 (21-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-17, 15-12), and St. John's, 3-2 (14-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-13).

Against Duke, Princeton had 15 blocks, which was the Tigers' most blocks in a match since their 17 on Oct. 2, 2021, against Harvard. Princeton's match against Duke also saw sophomore Kamryn Chaney record her first career double-double with a match-high 19 kills on a .380 hitting percentage and a career-high 15 digs. Senior Shelby Fulton also recorded a career-high 15 kills on a .323 hitting percentage along with a career-high five blocks.

Later that afternoon, the Tigers went one better in the blocking department and tallied 16. Chaney backed up her strong performance against the Blue Devils career-highs and match-highs in kills, digs and blocks as she recorded 25,16 and seven. She tied the match-high in blocks with freshman Jackie Onyechi, who also had seven.

In total, Chaney's 44 kills led the team, as did her 31 digs. Sophomore Sydney Draper finished with 94 assists, while Scalamandre had 13 blocks. Scalamandre and senior Gracie Wood each tallied a team-high three service aces.

Princeton vs. Duke
While the Blue Devils took an early 6-4 lead, a kill by sophomore Erin McNair ignited a 4-0 run that saw Princeton surge ahead, 9-7. With the score tied at 11-11, a kill by junior Lucia Scalamandre sparked a 6-0 run that gave the Tigers a 17-11 advantage. While Duke fought back via a 4-0 run, it was the Tigers who prevailed in the first, 25-21.

Princeton got off to a strong start in the second set, with a kill by Chaney leading a 5-0 that gave the Tigers a 9-6 advantage. Scalamandre's influence was pivotal, as she delivered a kill followed by a solo block that put the Tigers up five, 18-12. A Fulton kill gave the Tigers set point at 24-16, then another kill by Fulton sealed the set, 25-18.

Duke jumped out to a 10-6 led in the third set and never looked back from there. The Blue Devils led by as many as 10 at 23-13, and while the Tigers were able to narrow the deficit thanks to four kills by Chaney, Duke took the third set with a score of 25-17.

The Blue Devils led 8-3 early in the fourth set, but a kill by junior Valerie Nutakor led a 3-0 run that saw the Tigers narrow it to 9-7. Duke was again able to swing the momentum its way, taking an 18-13 lead then eventually earning a 25-17 victory in the set.

The fifth set was a back-and-forth battle, with a Chaney kill giving the Tigers a one-point edge at 8-7. Princeton led again, 9-8, after a Duke attacking error but the Blue Devils fought back to win the set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2.

Princeton vs. St. John's
Despite the Red Storm taking an early 4-3, a St. John's attacking error led a 7-0 Princeton that saw the Tigers surge ahead, 10-4, following a service ace by Scalamandre. The Tigers would remain in control, with a service ace then a kill by Scalamandre giving Princeton a double-digit advantage 21-11. The Tigers would hold on for the 25-14 first set victory.

The Red Storm raced out to a 10-5 advantage in the second set, but Princeton was persistent and gradually chipped away at the lead. Down 23-20, a freshman Ashtyn Sims sparked a 5-0 run that took the Tigers home. A St. John's bad set gave Princeton set point then an emphatic kill by Chaney gave the Tigers the win in the second set, 25-23.

Sparked by a kill from Sims, Princeton used an early 4-0 run to gain a 5-3 advantage in the third set. The Tigers stayed in front, with a Chaney kill keeping the Tigers in the lead, 10-9. From there, a 5-0 run St. John's run swung the momentum the Red Storm's way and while Princeton brought it within two at 21-19, St. John's took the third set, 25-20.

The fourth set began as a back-and-forth battle, with a kill by Chaney putting the Tigers in front, 5-4. The Red Storm battled back to take a 13-12 advantage, but a double block by Chaney and freshman Jackie Onyechi led a 4-0 run that gave Princeton a 16-13 lead. Shortly after, a pair of 4-0 runs by the Red Storm put St. John's back on top and they would go on to send the match five, triumphing 25-22.

St. John's took a 7-4 lead in the fifth set, but Princeton showed its resilience as a Chaney kill ignited a 5-0 run that gave the Tigers a 9-7 advantage. Kills by Chaney and Fulton kept the Tigers in front, 13-12, but the Red Storm ended the match with a 3-0 run to prevail in the fifth set, 15-13, and the match 3-0.

Up Next
The Tigers will face #3 Penn State (5-0) inside Rec Hall tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.