NEWARK – The streak is over.
Penn State's run of seven straight Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championships came to a screeching halt as the second-seeded Nittany Lions fell to the men's volleyball team in three straight games last night, 15-7, 15-13, 16-14, at the Golden Dome in Newark.
Princeton (15-8 overall) knew that its road to the EIVA championship – and to the Final Four in Hawaii – would go through Penn State, but it had expected to meet the Nittany Lions in the finals. With the victory, the Tigers avenged season-ending losses to Penn State in the EIVA finals the last two years.
Until this year, Princeton had never beaten Penn State in its history of men's volleyball. Including the win last night, the Tigers downed the Nittany Lions two of the three times they played this season.
On top
Princeton took control from the get-go, jumping out to a 12-6 lead in the first game behind solid all-around play from the six starters. Penn State only scored once more as the Tigers closed out the game, 15-7. Senior middle Dan Brandt went down with an ankle injury with the score tied at four, but freshman middle Ryan Black stepped in and held his own for the remainder of the game.
The Nittany Lions hit just .081 in the first game, and their miscommunication haunted them as it did the last time the two teams faced each other. Penn State was scrambling – balls dropped between outof-position players – and acutely feeling captain Davis Gealey's absence. Gealey, a senior swing, was academically ineligible.
"When we needed to, we made few errors and they made a lot," senior opposite Scott Birdwell, who led all hitters with 22 kills, said. "Usually it's the other way around."
Too little, too late
Penn State picked up its play during the second and third games, but it was not enough, as the Tigers stampeded to victory.
"They had a couple of rotations that they had trouble scoring out of," senior middle Derek Devens, who had 16 kills, said. "Once we found those out we could key in on certain players and score points when we needed to."
Princeton can view this victory as a true team effort. The Tigers' solid offensive and defensive play brought home the win.
The second game was as evenly matched as the first was lopsided. The two teams essentially traded points until Princeton withstood a late charge by Penn State to take the game, 15-13.
Fate
With the score tied at 14 in the third game, the ball bounced off Birdwell to go over the net and keep the rally going. At that moment, Princeton was finally sure that destiny was on its side.
The Tigers' blocking and defense, which have been the team's weak spots this year, were impeccable yesterday. Penn State did not record a service ace on the match, and Princeton got down and dug 46 balls.
The most important task Princeton now faces is maintaining its momentum. With Penn State behind them, the Tigers will meet the winner of the Rutgers-Newark-George Mason match in the EIVA finals Saturday at 2 p.m.
"We have to pass well, block well and dig some balls like we did tonight," sophomore setter Jason Morrow, who had 52 assists and 10 digs, said. "Everybody has to play a part."
Saturday's match at Rutgers-Newark possibly marks the last match for this year's seniors, who constitute four of the six starters. The winner of the match will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii for the NCAA Final Four April 30.
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