Author: Lajina Hossain

No. 1 Princeton vs. No. 3 Penn StateÂ
Saturday, April 26 | 5 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+
 
PRINCETON, N.J. –Seeking its fourth EIVA Championship title all-time, the no. 1 seeded Princeton men’s volleyball team will face no. 3 Penn State in the EIVA tournament final on Saturday. The first serve is set for 5 p.m. on the Tigers’ home court, Dillon Gym. 
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How They Got Here

• Princeton advances to the championship match after downing no. 4 George Mason, 3-1, on Thursday night in Dillon.
• Senior captains Nyherowo Omene and Henry Wedbush led the Tigers, with each setting new career-highs on the night as Omene tallied 28 kills and Wedbush made 52 assists.Â
• Omene hit 28-7-46 for .457, also adding three aces, six digs and two blocks.Â
• Mason Rice tallied 13 kills and five blocks, while Owen Mellon hit 12-3-23 for .391.Â
• Princeton claimed the EIVA regular season title last Friday with a 3-1 win over Penn State last Friday night on the road in Happy Valley.
• In the match, Ryan Vena led the Tigers defensively, making nine blocks including one solo in the match. Vena also tallied five kills for .333 hitting, two aces and two digs. For his efforts, Vena was named EIVA Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, the first weekly nod of his career.
• With the win last night, Princeton’s record improves to 15-10 on the season.Â

 
League Recognition

• The Tigers were strongly represented in the EIVA’s postseason awards, as announced on Tuesday.
• Wedbush was named the EIVA Player of the Year as the senior led Princeton this year, guiding them to one of the best defenses in the NCAA. The Tigers rank third nationally in blocks per set (2.58) and 13th in opponent hitting percentage (0.218).Â
• Wedbush made a team-high 759 assists for an average of 9.37 a set, which put him third in the league and 24th nationally.Â
• Sam Shweisky was named EIVA Coach of the Year. Shweisky, in his 16th year as Head Coach at Princeton, also received the honor in 2019 and 2010.
• Three Tigers were named to the First Team All-EIVA in Omene, Wedbush and Vena.Â
• Mason Rice was named to the Second Team All-EIVA, in his first year, while classmate Roan Alviar was named an All-EIVA Honorable Mention.Â

 
In the Rankings

• Princeton leads the EIVA in eight stat categories, among them hitting percentage (.281), points per set (15.48), and blocks (2.58/s).Â
• Nationally, the Tigers rank third in blocks, 13th in opponent hitting percentage (.221) and 23rd in hitting percentage.Â
• Omene currently leads the EIVA in four categories, including kills (4.40), aces (0.46), points per set (5.30) and hitting percentage (.334).Â
• Omene ranks third in the nation in points per set and fifth in kills per set.Â
• Wedbush ranks third in the EIVA and 24th nationally in assists per set with 9.54.
• Sophomore Tristan Whitfield currently ranks fourth in the EIVA in blocks per set with 0.96 and a total of 70 on the season, as the 2024 EIVA Freshman of the Year continues to be a defensive powerhouse for the Tigers.
• First-year Roan Alviar leads the Tigers and ranks fifth in the EIVA with 1.66 digs a set.

 
EIVA History

• Princeton is seeking its fourth title, also winning the EIVA Championship in 1998, 2019 and 2022.
• The Tigers’ 2022 title came from a 3-2 win over Penn State in University Park.Â
• This will mark Princeton’s eighth trip to the EIVA finals.Â
• The Tigers were picked to finish fourth in the EIVA preseason standings.Â
• Omene and Wedbush were named to the 2025 EIVA Players to Watch list. Both seniors were named to the All-EIVA First Team at the conclusion of last season.
• The Tigers are led by Sam Shweisky, who has coached the Tigers to 2 EIVA Championships and 6 EIVA Finals. Shweisky is in his 16th year as head coach of the Princeton men’s volleyball program, and he is assisted by Joe Norton in his second year.

 
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PRINCETON, N.J. – Led by a career-high 28 kills from Nyherowo Omene and a career-high 52 assists from Henry Wedbush, the no. 1 seeded Princeton men’s volleyball team defeated the no. 4 seeded George Mason Patriots 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24) in the EIVA semifinals to advance to Saturday’s championship match.Â

Mason Rice made a team-high five blocks, with Roan Alviar making a team-high 5 digs.

How It Happened
Princeton and George Mason took off into a close race right as they entered set one, with Princeton holding onto a one-point lead after 10 points. That lead would grow into a three-point, four-point, and ultimately five-point lead as Omene tallied six kills, and Mason Rice and Owen Mellon added four apiece.Â

Keeping the momentum up, Princeton entered set two with a big kill from Rice and another big block from Ryan Vena and Wedbush helping the Tigers to a 4-1 lead. Princeton continued to maintain that lead throughout the first half of the set, but George Mason chipped away at it steadily, taking the lead at 18-19. The Tigers fought to stay in the set, but ultimately the Patriots tied the match at one, taking the set narrowly 25-23.Â

Princeton entered set three determined, taking an early lead and running as the set saw no ties and no lead changes. In a race to 25 points, Omene tallied nine kills in the set, with Wedbush making 14 assists. George Mason tried to catch up to the Tigers, but they were never able to equalize despite coming within a few points, and Princeton would regain the lead 2-1 with a set score of 25-22.Â

Looking to finish the job, the Tigers fought to take set four. Taking an early lead at 2-1, Princeton was able to build on and maintain the advantage throughout the rest of the set, fighting off six ties with George Mason but not once relinquishing the lead.Â

Omene again made nine kills in the set, this time joined by five from Mellon and four from Rice, who had 12 and 13 on the night, respectively. With the set knotted at 23-23, a kill by Omene and another kill by Rice put the Tigers at 25, needing one more to clinch the win.Â

Seniors Wedbush and Omene, leading the team as they have all season, combined for one more kill to call the set 26-24 and send Princeton through to the championship.Â

Of Note

• Princeton hit .357 on the night as a team.Â
• Omene hit 28-7-46 for a whopping .457, also adding three aces, six digs and two blocks.Â
• Mellon hit 12-3-23 for .391.Â

Up Next
Princeton will face Penn State in Saturday’s EIVA Championship Final. The first serve is set for 5 p.m. in Dillon Gym.  
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Story Links Support Pace Athletics Here! PLEASANTVILLE, NY – Setter alumni, families, friends, and fans, the Annual Pace University 1906…

  By: Ed Weaver  /  March 11, 2025 Five new members will be inducted into the Wellsboro Sports Hall of Fame’s Class…

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PLEASANTVILLE, NY – The Northeast-10 (NE10) Conference released their Fall Semester Academic Honor Roll list in which Pace Athletics is well represented with 319 student-athletes.

Among the NE10’s 11 member and six associate member institutions, the Conference recognized 3,790 student-athletes for their academic achievements. The Academic Honor Roll (AHR) acknowledges the commitment of NE10 student-athletes to excel in the classroom with three designations: Academic Excellence (4.0 GPA), Academic Distinction (3.50-3.99 GPA) and Academic Honors (3.00-3.49). 10 of 11 NE10 full member institutions had at least 50-percent of their student-athletes earn AHR status. Six institutions reached 70% or higher, while 10 had at least 60% of their student-athletes recognized.

The overall breakdown of the 319 Setter names mentioned is as follows: 51 student-athletes named in the Academic Excellence category, 170 in the Academic Distinction, and 98 in the Academic Honors.

Adelphi had a league-high 85.2% of its student-athletes named to the Academic Honor Roll, while Bentley ranked second at 84.1% and Pace was third at 78.6%. New Haven (71.5%) and Saint Michael’s (70.6%) rounded-out the top five.

About Pace University Athletics
Pace University Athletics is a member of NCAA Division II, competing within the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10). Pace Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, along with cheer, dance, and E-Sports programs. In 2023-24, Pace student-athletes posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.37. Additionally, a total of 311 Setters were selected to the NE10’s Academic Honor Roll following the spring 2024 semester.

For all information regarding Pace Athletics, log on to www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), Twitter (@PaceUAthletics) and Instagram (@PaceAthletics). In addition, the Official Pace University Athletics newsletter, Setters Sports Wrap, is available. CLICK HERE to sign up for weekly updates on Pace Athletics content.

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MANSFIELD, MA. – On Thursday afternoon, the Northeast-10 Conference released its Academic All-Conference teams for the 2024 fall season, with the conference honoring 99 individuals for their excellence as student-athletes. Out of the 99 honored, five were members of Pace University’s fall sports teams.Â

To be eligible for selection to NE10 Academic All-Conference teams, a student-athlete must have met or exceeded the following minimum requirements:

• Started in at least half or played in at least two-thirds of the team’s competitions as a significant contributor.
• Achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) or better on a 4.0 scale.

Field Hockey and Women’s Soccer led all fall sports with 22 honorees each.

VOLLEYBALL
Georgette Cosentino (Scarsdale, N.Y./ The Ursuline School), Senior, Setter

• 3.98 GPA (4.0 Fall Semester); Biology
• Academic All-District Selection
• Finished the 2024 season with 225 assists, 87 digs, and eight service aces ranking second on the team in assists (4.35 per set).

Maggie Ferguson (Southbury, CT./Pomperaug High School), Junior, Setter

• 3.95 GPA; Psychology
• Academic All-District Selection
• Ended the 2024 campaign with 108 digs, 131 assists, and 18 service aces.

 
FOOTBALL
Paul Cimicata (Lyndhurst, N.J. Lyndhurst High School), Graduate Student, Defensive End

• 3.92 Cumulative GPA (Graduate) – Undergraduate – 4.0; Public Accounting
• Recorded 24 tackles (7 solo, 17 assisted) with 1.5 sacks during the 2024 campaign.

Robert Ennis (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas High School), Graduate Student, Wide Receiver

• 3.82 (Graduate) – Undergraduate – 3.92; Accounting
• Finished the 2024 season with ten receptions, 256 receiving yards two touchdowns.

 
FIELD HOCKEY
Krista Dietz (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac High School), Senior, Forward

• 3.83 GPA (4.0 for fall semester); Digital Cinema and Filmmaking (Minor in Sports Broadcasting)
• Named to NFHCA All-American First-team alongside the Northeast-10 All-Conference First-Team.
• Produced a team-high 59 points with 20 goals and 19 assists during the 2024 season.

For all information regarding Pace Athletics, log on to www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), Twitter (@PaceUAthletics) and Instagram (@PaceAthletics). In addition, the Official Pace University Athletics newsletter, Setters Sports Wrap, is available. CLICK HERE to sign up for weekly updates on Pace Athletics content.
 
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By: Ed Weaver  /  January 6, 2025  /  Photo: Nick Coyle

Seniors
Lexi Urena and Paige Logsdon were recently named to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association’s (PVCA) Class 2A All-State team.

Wellsboro also finished 10th in the Class 2A final team standings poll.

The pair led Wellsboro to their first District IV championship since the 2015 season. They are also the first All-State selections since Caitlyn Callahan and Megan Starkweather were both named to the team following the 2019 season.

“I am so proud of both Paige and Lexi for this accomplishment,” head coach Darci Pollock said. “They gave so much to our team and program in these past four years. Both Paige and Lexi were captains of our team this season. Their passion for the game allowed them to lead their team to success and they will be greatly missed.”

Urena led the Lady Hornets with 177 kills while Logsdon was 2nd on the team with 165. Urena was 3rd on the team with 163 points scored while Logsdon scored 160 points on the season.

Logsdon led Wellsboro with 56 total blocks while Urena was 2nd with 13.5. Urena was also 2nd on the team with 273 digs.

WellsboroVolleyball.com would like to congratulate Lexi and Paige on their All-State selections.

View the entire PVCA Class 2A All-State team.

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PLEASANTVILLE, NY (Dec. 17, 2024) – With the first half of the academic year coming to a close, the College Sport Communicators (CSC) wants to cap off the 2024 Volleyball year with their official release of the Academic All-District Teams. Announced on Tuesday afternoon, four Pace Volleyball student-athletes were selected for the honors.

The 2024 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by CSC, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.

Minimum eligibility requirements are that the student-athlete needs to have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA) while also appearing in at least 90% of the team’s total matches played OR have started at least 66% of the team’s total matches played.

Annika Blas-Cedeno (3.97 GPA), Georgette Cosentino (3.98 GPA), Maggie Ferguson (3.99 GPA), and Yasmeen Muhammad (3.82 GPA) have met each of the CSC Academic All-District requirements and have been selected to represent Pace Volleyball on the official list of recipients.

Additionally, Muhammad has also been selected as a CSC Academic All-America® finalist and will advance to the national ballot that CSC members will also vote on. First, second, and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Jan. 14, 2025.

For more information about the CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

For all information regarding Pace Athletics, log on to www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), Twitter (@PaceUAthletics) and Instagram (@PaceAthletics). In addition, the Official Pace University Athletics newsletter, Setters Sports Wrap, is available. CLICK HERE to sign up for weekly updates on Pace Athletics content.

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MANSFIELD, MA. – On Wednesday afternoon, the Northeast-10 (NE10) released the 2024 volleyball all-conference teams with three Setters earning recognition. Yasmeen Muhammad claimed a first-team selection, Karielys Melendez earned third-team honors, and Lexi Zammit was selected to the all-rookie team.

Muhammad put together a stellar second year for the Blue and Gold, earning a first-team selection. The sophomore produced a team-high 213 kills (.318 attacking percentage), with 88 total blocks, and 46 digs. A new career-high was reached for Muhammad as she racked up 22 kills in Pace’s five-set win over Saint Anselm College. With 277 points on the year the Shoreline, WA. native ranked inside the NE10 top ten.

A member of the NE10 third-team, Melendez played a key role for the Setters during the 2024 season. The Toa Baja, Puerto Rico native was an all-around threat for the Setters posting a team-high five double-doubles. On the season, Melendez recorded 197 kills (2.77 per set), 183 digs, and a team-best 26 service aces. Her average of 2.77 kills per set sits inside the top ten for the conference.

Zammit made a strong impression in her first season with Pace to claim all-rookie honors. Leading the team in total assists (376) the Perth Western, Australia native ranked seventh for the NE10 in assists per set (6.27). With two 50-assist performances, Zammit was exceptional in setting up her teammates at the net. Along with her facilitating skills, the freshman tallied 90 digs, 18 kills, and 20 service aces.

For all information regarding Pace Athletics, log on to www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), Twitter (@PaceUAthletics) and Instagram (@PaceAthletics). In addition, the Official Pace University Athletics newsletter, Setters Sports Wrap, is available. CLICK HERE to sign up for weekly updates on Pace Athletics content.
 
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By: Ed Weaver  /  November 1, 2024  /  Photo: Ed Weaver

Wellsboro rallied from trailing 2-1 to defeat top-seeded Troy 3-2 to win the program’s 9th District IV Volleyball championship at Athens High School on Thursday, October 31.

Troy swept the regular season series with Wellsboro, defeating the Lady Hornets 3-0 back on September 17th and 3-1 two weeks ago. Troy edged Wellsboro for the NTL championship, however the Lady Hornets got the better of their NTL foes. Wellsboro, along with Williamsport, are the only two teams to take Troy to five sets this season.

“We talked about us not winning in nine years and Troy last winning 10 years ago, but it’s amazing,” 2nd year head coach Darci Pollock said. “To come back to the program that I went through to bring back a district championship is the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Coach Pollock was a senior on Wellsboro’s last District Championship team in 2015-16, when the Lady Hornets defeated Wyalusing 3-1.

After Troy scored the first set’s opening point the Lady Hornets rattled off six consecutive points to take a 6-1 lead. Troy closed the game down to 7-5, then eventually tied the set up at 10-all. The rest of the set went back and forth when Wellsboro broke a 17-all tie to push their lead to 21-17. Troy rallied to tie the set up at 21-all and later at 22-22, before the Lady Hornets scored the next three points, closing out the set on a kill by senior Lexi Urena to go up 1-0.

Wellsboro started off the second set with 4 quick points before Troy rallied and scored the next 4 to tie the set up. Both teams battled back-and-forth, neither leading by more two points until late. Troy trailed 16-14 before outscoring Wellsboro 6-1 to take a 20-17 lead before closing out the set on a 5-2 run to win the set 25-19 to even it up at 1-all.

Troy completely dominated Wellsboro in the third set, winning 25-9. The Trojans took an early 7-0 lead, then pushed it to 14-4 before closing out the set on a 11-5 run to take a 2-1 lead in the game.

“I don’t know the last time we came out like that in the first set against a team like that,” continued Pollock. “Usually we drop the first set and comeback in the 2nd and 3rd, so it was definitely opposite of what we’re used to. A lot of our girls have been fighting colds this week, and they weren’t at their best, so to see them fight through and get to the 5th set is incredible.”

“I kept telling the team every mistake, every error, we have to let it go,” senior Paige Logsdon said. “It’s in the past. It doesn’t matter anymore. Every set is a new game, and especially after the 3rd set we have to just let it go.

Along with Logsdon, Urena helped rally the team after falling behind 2-1.

“We just kept saying this could be our last game and that we really need to push and work as a team,” Urena added. “We just tried to keep a positive attitude, even when things don’t look good.”

Wellsboro was able to shake off the third set as they rallied to take the 4th, 25-21. Trailing 5-1 early, the Lady Hornets fought their way back within two points at 8-6, then went on a 4-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. Troy regrouped and went on a 4-0 run of their own to retake the lead at 12-10, before the Lady Hornets rattled off five straight points to push the lead back to 15-12. Wellsboro maintained their two point lead until the end of the set when they pushed it to 4 points to even the match up at 2-all and force a 5th set. In the final set Wellsboro got out to a 6-1 lead before Troy went on a 10-3 run to lead 11-9. Wellsboro scored the next two points to knot the set up at 11-all, then took the lead at 13-12 on a Urena kill.

Troy answered back with a point to tie the set up at 13-all, but a Logsdon kill put the Lady Hornets back in front at 14-13. After Troy took a timeout, Urena put the ball in play for the final time of the night and sophomore Blake Eckart made the game’s final kill.

“I knew of the bus ride here that we were going to win,” Eckart said. “I just wanted it so bad for Paige, Lexi, and all the seniors. I can’t even explain it.”

“We’ve been pushing for this all season,” Logsdon continued. “We lost to Troy the past two times we played them but we knew this time we’d have to give it our all. It’s just incredible.”

“I’m still in shock,” said Urena. “We worked so hard for this moment. Our passers and our setters gave me great opportunities all night. I’m just really thankful for my team.”

“Lexi played the best game of her career tonight,” commented Pollock on her senior captain. “She is a monster. She goes out there and gets the job done and she took it personal in the third set and told the team we have to get it together.”

Urena led Wellsboro with 12 kills, 7 points and 38 digs. Logsdon finished with 11 kills, 5 solo blocks and 3 assisted blocks, and Eckart added 8 kills, 7 points, and 20 digs. Junior
Taylor Main made 16 assists, scored 7 points (2 aces) and had 2 blocks, sophomore Ellie Largey recorded 15 assists, and sophomore Madison Cruttenden made 26 digs and scored 18 points with 2 aces.

Next up for Wellsboro (18-4, 12-2 NTL Large School Division) is a match up with District II champion Holy Redeemer on Tuesday.

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