Women's Volleyball: Visitors sweep rivals at Palestra

Echoing the previous match between the two teams earlier in the season, all three sets were characterized by momentum swings and lead changes. The Tigers (14-6 overall, 7-1 Ivy League) nevertheless managed to sweep their opponents 25-22, 25-21, 25-20. Led by senior middle blocker Cathryn Quinn and junior outside hitter Lydia Rudnick, Princeton’s two returning first-team All-Ivy players, the Tigers won in just three sets, handing defending champion Penn (16-12, 2-6) its fourth loss in a row.

Despite its success so far this season, Princeton has let teams compete going into five sets with relative frequency. As the season has progressed, however, the Tigers made it their goal to finish teams early.

“One of our goals this match was to win in three,” Rudnick said. “We almost always go to five, and during this game it seemed like it could go either way. We kept our eyes on that and were able to win.”

Throughout the match, the team got contributions from many players. The Tigers began the first set by pulling ahead with a lead but eventually found themselves tied 18-18. After a quick timeout, the Tigers managed to take the lead once more with a four-point run. Rudnick hit the final kill from freshman setter Ginny Willis, who recorded 30 assists.

Penn took the lead in the second set at 18-16. Though things started to look rough, sophomore outside hitter Sydney Brombal guided Princeton’s response, serving a seven-point run that turned the game.

“I was really proud of our bench, which really sparked the team when we needed it,” head coach Sabrina King ’01 said. “Being on the road is tough, and some of our younger players might not have been ready for the more hostile environment at first, but they showed more toughness as the match went on.”

With contributors like Willis and Brombal, freshman outside hitter Sarah Hanna and freshman right-side hitter Francie Jenkins, Princeton’s team demonstrated its depth. Senior libero Hillary Ford led Princeton’s sound defense with 19 digs.

The match ended with a kill by sophomore middle blocker Leah Jordan, which closed a comfortable third set.

“Penn is one of our biggest rivals,” Rudnick said. “It was nice to play them in their gym and be able to win.”

The Tigers look to continue their winning streak at Dartmouth next Friday, followed by a match at Harvard on Saturday. Princeton defeated both teams earlier in the season and will look to do the same next weekend.

“I think we have been working really hard in practice, which helped us prepare for games,” Rudnick said. “We’ve been getting contributions from all 16 girls and have been playing as a team.”

At the end of break, the Tigers also go up against Brown on Nov. 4 and Yale the next day. The match at Yale should be exciting and could decide the Ivy League championship.

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“It’s only going to get tougher as the season goes, and any road win in the league is big,” King said. “We have to keep working hard and getting better.”