Princeton Advances to EIVA Championship Match with 3-1 over George Mason

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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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