Tigers Fall to #17 CSUN, 3-1

Wednesday, March 11

Northridge, Calif.

6:00 PM PST / 9:00 PM EST

Princeton University

4-8,0-3EIVA

CSUN

11-5,0-1Big West

Princeton

CSUN

March 11, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CALIF. – The Princeton men's volleyball team fell 3-1, (19-25, 25-21, 19-25, 21-25) to #17 CSUN on Wednesday night in Northridge as the Tigers closed out a two-game stint out West.

Ryan Vena led the Tigers with 13 kills on the night, while Andrew Werner and Ambrose Engling each added 12 of their own.

Ethan Wells led the Tiger defense with 5 block assists in the contest, as Vena and Nolan Kelly each tallied six digs.

Vena and Engling also had two aces apiece.

How It Happened
Set one was close as the Tigers and the Matadors traded points through 16, with Werner making three kills and Mellon and Vena each contributing two. With five kills from Jalen Philips, though, CSUN pulled away with two 3-0 runs, taking the set 25-19.

The Tigers responded in set two, building a lead with an early 3-0 run from Vena, Werner and a block by Kelly and Ethan Wells. Continuing to score, the Tigers reached their largest lead of the match at 14-9. With Vena tallying five kills and the Tigers making two key blocks to go ahead. Winning the set 25-21, Princeton equalized.

In the third set, the Tiger offense continued to heat up as Werner, Vena and Engling each tallied four kills. CSUN was able to tie it at six and seven, but the Tigers would not relinquish the lead through 14 points.

However, with CSUN gaining momentum late in the set, hitting .609 and making late 4-0 and 3-0 runs, it was the Matadors who would take it, 25-19.

The fourth set saw CSUN take a steep early lead, ahead at 10-4. Despite a late surge from the Tigers that saw them halve the deficit with a 3-0 run, CSUN went on to take the set, 25-21, and the match.

Up Next
The Tigers will return home and pick back up with EIVA action as they host NJIT next Saturday, Mar. 21 at 4 p.m. in Dillon Gym.