Tigers Fall to No. 1 Penn State in EIVA Final

Saturday, April 25

University Park, PA

7:00 PM

Princeton University

9-15,3-9EIVA

No. 1 Penn State (EIVA Championship)

22-7,12-0EIVA

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Princeton	23	20	18	0
Penn St.	25	25	25	3

Photo by Steven Walter

April 25, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. – Ending a historic run, the Princeton men's volleyball team fell, 3-0 (23-25, 20-25, 18-25) to the first seed, Penn State, in the EIVA Tournament Championship on Saturday evening.

In reaching the final for the second-consecutive year, the Tigers became the first sixth-seeded team to reach the tournament final since the league adopted its current six-team format in 2021.

Owen Mellon and Ambrose Engling were named to the EIVA All-Tournament team for their performances this week, as the Tigers knocked off the three-seed and two-seed en-route to the final.

In the championship match, Mason Rice led the Tigers with nine kills while Mellon added eight. Ryan Vena hit 6-1-10 for .500 with a block assist, while Nolan Kelly dished out 28 assists on the night.

Set one was close, as the Tigers and the Nittany Lions traded points through 12. Penn State was able to pull away for a few points, but the Tigers answered back with back-to-back kills from Rice and Mellon to tie it at 15. Another pair of points from Vena and Mellon again made it 17-16 Tigers.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Penn State answered with a 3-0 run. Inching towards set point, the Tigers and the Nittany Lions continued to go back-and-forth, with Princeton getting within two late with a Tristan Whitfield ace. However, Penn State would take the set 25-23.

In game two, Princeton and Penn State were even through five, before the Nittany Lions pulled away with a 7-0 run. The Tigers would get to work to close the deficit, with Rice making three kills in the set. Despite a 3-0 Tiger run late, they would not be able to close the initial gap, and Penn State took the set 25-20.

Penn State again took an early lead in set three, but the Tigers were able to climb back with two kills by Engling and one apiece from Vena and Mellon. With Engling making an ace, the Tigers were within one at mid-set.

Still, the Nittany Lions continued to out-pace the Tiger offense, making a 3-0 run late before taking the set, 25-18.

After entering last weekend 1-9 in the EIVA, the Tigers excelled to keep their season alive, winning two must-win games at Harvard before going on a run this week in Happy Valley with two upset wins.

Despite coming up short in the final, the 2026 Tigers end their season with much to be proud of after making league history and coming within just a few points of another title in the EIVA final.