Women's Volleyball Brings Home a 3-2 Victory Against Brown

Saturday, October 10

Princeton, N.J.

5:00 PM

Princeton University

5-8,3-2Ivy League

Brown

4-9,2-3Ivy League

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Brown	25	25	25	23	6	2
Princeton	22	27	23	25	15	3

Women's Volleyball Brings Home a 3-2 Victory Against Brown

October 10, 2026 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton women's volleyball team closed out a five-game homestand by taking down Brown 3-2 on Saturday night in Dillon Gym.

Princeton (5-8 overall) improved their Ivy League play to 3-2, while Brown (4-9 overall) dropped down to 2-3.

Two Tigers had double-doubles tonight, Erin McNair dominated on both sides of the ball with a team-high 17 kills and 13 digs along with Sydney Draper, who put up 53 assists and 12 digs. Princeton served a season-high 13 aces, led by Ava Harrington with five, and Natalie Surges and Erin McNair each hitting three.

How it Happened
Princeton's Ashley Duckworth amped up the alums in the crowd, starting the night off with a kill. The squads played tit-for-tat until Brown went up 6-4, but two kills from Shelby Burriss tied the game 6-6. A Fisayo Afonja kill helps Brown pull away to lead 16-9.

Trailing 20-15, Princeton goes on a three-point surge to make it 20-18. The Bears are match point from a Tigers service error at 24-20, but a McNair kill and a Sims and Burriss block keep them in the game at 24-22. A Princeton service error puts an end to the first set, Brown taking it at 25-22.

Early in second set play, Princeton gets hot and goes on a four-point run to take an 8-5 lead with McNair and Burriss alternating scoring. Brown gets two more to make it 8-7, but the Tigers go on a tear, scoring five in a row to extend their advantage to 13-7. The Bears get back in it, scoring 4 in a row to make it 15-14.

After trading points, Princeton goes up 19-17 with the sixth ace of the night, second from Harrington. Brown is match-point after a Princeton attack error, but Erin McNair ties it yet again with a fierce kill at 24-24. McNair hammers down a kill to put the Tigers at match point. Ava Harrington seals the deal with another service ace, giving the Tigers set two at 27-25.

Set three is another nail-biter as both squads exchange points, until Brown begins to pull away to 10-7 after a three-point scoring run. The Tigers finally get their groove back after a big block by Shelby Burriss puts the Tigers within reach at 16-14. Coming from behind at 18-14, Princeton scores four in a row to tie it 18-18.

Tiger fans are roaring when Princeton goes up 20-18 after a Bears attack error and a Harrington kill. Brown gets two more to tie it, then goes up 22-20 after kills from Elle Holley and Sarah Shaw. Natalie Surges gets a pair of service aces to give Princeton the advantage back at 23-22. After three Bears kills, Brown came away with the third set at 25-23.

The Bulldogs got ahead of it early in the fourth set, going up 5-1. The Tigers clawed their way back, putting up three consecutive points, two McNair kills and a Harrington and Burris block assist to make it 5-4. Brown pulls ahead again 9-5 but doesn't stay comfortable for long once Princeton fights its way back with McNair's fourth ace of the night to make it 9-8.

Tied at 14-14, the Tigers attacked, going on a five-point run to take a 18-14 lead. Natalie Surges was on fire late in the fourth, scoring the next five for Princeton giving the Tigers match point. Erin McNair slams down her 15th kill to win the set 25-23, sending Princeton into a fifth.

Princeton completely dominates in the fifth set, going up 7-1 for the early lead. The Tigers keep the Bears to only five points, when Harrington finds the floor to give the Tigers match point at 14-5. After one more kill from Brown as a last effort, Harrington strikes again for point 15 of the set, earning a 3-2 victory for Princeton.

Of Note

The 13 service aces against the Bears is a single-game season-high for the Tigers.
McNair spearheaded the Princeton attack with a match-high 17 kills.
Shelby Burriss provided high-volume scoring efficiency, racking up 16 kills on a .538 attack percentage.
Sydney Bold led on defense, hitting a team-high 14 digs while adding five assists and a service ace.
Natalie Surges had a breakout performance, with eight kills and 12 digs.
Sydney Draper hit .667 while dishing out a game-high 53 assists and 12 digs.
Ava Harrington made an all-around impact with 12 kills, four service aces and four blocks.