In a clash between the top two teams in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA), the No. 19 Princeton men’s volleyball team (14–10 overall, 10–2 EIVA) secured the regular season title after splitting their weekend series with Penn State (11–15, 8–4) in University Park.
The Tigers clinched the title with a 3–1 victory on Friday night, ending Penn State’s three-year winning streak over Princeton. The win also guaranteed Princeton the top seed and the right to host the EIVA Tournament for only the second time in school history.
“Winning on the road at Penn State was really special,” said head coach Sam Shweisky. “Clinching first place with one match left and bringing the tournament to Princeton means a lot.”
Historic Win
Friday’s victory was Princeton’s first over Penn State since the 2022 EIVA Championship. It also broke Penn State’s streak of hosting the EIVA Tournament every year since 2019.
“My record against Penn State isn’t great, so this feels good,” said senior setter and captain Henry Wedbush. “Bringing the tournament home has been my goal since freshman year.”
The match featured two of the top blocking teams in the nation. Penn State led early in the first set, but Princeton’s 7–1 run, capped by a combined block from captains Tristan Whitfield and Nyherowo Omene, helped the Tigers take the set 25–22.
Omene, the EIVA Offensive Player of the Week, was a key force again, finishing with a match-high 19 kills.
“Once we focus on what makes us good, the opponent’s game fades into the background,” Omene said.
Princeton lost the second set 27–25, but came back strong in the third, dominating 25–18 behind several team blocks and a 7–0 run, sparked by an Omene kill. A solo block from Wedbush sealed the set.
“This team might not be the most talented we’ve had,” said Wedbush, “but the grit and fight we’ve shown are unmatched.”
Closing It Out
In the fourth set, down 21–16, the Tigers rallied again. Omene led a 5–0 run to tie the score. Key defensive plays by Ryan Vena, who had nine blocks, and strong contributions from first-years Mason Rice and Ethan Wells helped Princeton edge out the set 25–23 and win the match.
“I think we’re all already focused on playoffs,” Omene said. “That’s the next step.”
Saturday’s Match and Looking Ahead
With the regular season title secured, Shweisky rested many starters on Saturday. Despite a 3–0 loss, backup players like junior hitter Andrew Werner and sophomore Jameson Vaccaro shined, each recording 12 kills.
“It was the smart thing to do,” Shweisky said. “The team played with pride and passion.”
Now, Princeton enters the EIVA Tournament as the No. 1 seed and will receive a first-round bye. They’ll face the winner of George Mason and Charleston in Thursday’s semifinal. If they win, the final will be held on Saturday, April 26 at Dillon Gymnasium.
“I can’t wait for the tournament to start,” Wedbush said. “Hopefully we can bring the championship home.”
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