Tigers Fall Short in Fifth Set Against Sacred Heart

Friday, April 3

Princeton, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

5-11,1-6EIVA

Sacred Heart

9-11,2-5EIVA

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Sacred Heart	25	25	16	18	16	3
Princeton	22	19	25	25	14	2

Photo by: Andee Fagan

Tigers Fall Short in Fifth Set Against Sacred Heart

April 03, 2026 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton men's volleyball team fell to Sacred Heart, 3-2 (22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-18, 14-16) on Friday night in Dillon Gym.

Three Tigers hit in double figures as Owen Mellon led the Tigers with 18 kills. Andrew Werner and Ambrose Engling were behind him with 15 and 11, respectively. Tristan Whitfield had four block assists while leading in hitting percentage with .700 (seven kills on 10 swings).

How It Happened
The Tigers started off with a 5-2 lead in set one, with Vena tallying an ace and Mellon making two kills in the Tigers' first five points. With Werner, Vena and Whitfield coming up with big kills, the Tigers forced a Pioneer timeout at 11-7.

With a Sacred Heart run, Princeton found itself tied at 14, but it was able to regain the advantage. Again, however, the Pioneers climbed back and took their first lead of the night at 20-19. Mellon added two more kills, but Sacred Heart took the set, 25-22.

Sacred Heart went on another run to start set two, taking a 9-1 lead. Despite three more kills from Mellon, and one apiece from Mason Rice and Ambrose Engling, the Tigers still trailed 15-9 at the media timeout.

Gaining some momentum off back-to-back points from Whitfield as he made a kill and an ace, the Tigers were able to cut the deficit to four. Mason Rice would add three kills and Engling would add two, but the initial deficit proved too much to overcome as Sacred Heart took the set 25-19.

The Tigers responded in set three, taking an early 6-2 lead with Whitfield making three back-to-back points off two kills and a block. With Ambrose Engling adding two kills and an ace of his own, the Tigers were ahead 15-8 at the media break.

Set four was close early as the Tigers and the Pioneers traded points through nine. With Engling making his third ace of the night, the Tigers pulled away with a 12-9 lead. Continuing to build on the lead with four kills apiece from Mellon and Werner, the Tigers began to close in on set point with a 22-16 advantage. With one more kill by Werner, Princeton tied the match with a set score of 25-18.

Werner kicked off the fifth set for the Tigers with back-to-back aces. Two kills from Engling and one more from Mellon saw Princeton hold on to a 8-6 lead at the media break.

Still, Sacred Heart climbed back to tie it at 13-13. Trading points again with a tie again at 14, the Pioneers put two more away to win the set, 16-14.

Up Next
The Tigers will face off with the Pioneers again tomorrow at 4 p.m.. Saturday will mark Senior Day, as the Tigers celebrate the Class of 2026 for their last home match in Dillon.