Match Stats
- Princeton def. Grand Canyon 3-2, (20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11)
- Princeton improves to 10-9
- Grand Canyon falls to 14-9
- Match results
Princeton continued to build off their strong showing against #3 BYU earlier this week, taking down a Grand Canyon team that was nearly going to break the top-15 for the first time in program history.
The two teams will face each other once again tonight, which you can watch live here.
For Princeton, George Huhmann led with 14 kills and a match-best eight blocks. Greg Luck was able to add another 10 kills and three aces for the Tigers, while Parker Dixon blocked six balls and added two aces.
Drake Silbernagel led the way for the Lopes with 12 kills, while Shalev Saada and Matthew Kinnebrew each contributed another 10 kills.
Press Release
Courtesy of Princeton Athletics
The Princeton men’s volleyball team built off its strong showing against #3 BYU earlier this week, but it added an ability to finish off tight sets. That turned into a recipe for success against a Grand Canyon program that was on the verge of breaking into the Top 15 for the first time in program history.
Freshman George Huhmann recorded 14 kills and eight blocks while hitting .619 for Princeton, which moved back over the .500 mark (10-9) Thursday night with a 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11 win over the Antelopes of Grand Canyon — the top team listed outside the latest AVCA national poll — in the first of back-to-back matches. The two teams will meet again Friday, which you can watch live here.
Huhmann, a former EIVA Defensive Player of the Week, was spectacular on both sides of the net, and he put the finishing touch on the win after a late Grand Canyon rally. After Grand Canyon rallied for three straight points to get within 13-11, Huhmann put away a set from senior Jonah May (34 assists), and then killed an overpass to secure the Tigers’ 10th win of the season.
Classmate Greg Luck added 10 kills, three aces and three digs, while junior Kendall Ratter had nine kills as he continues to show his early-season form. Parker Dixon had six kills, but he also added six blocks, while Junior Oboh had four blocks for the defensive-minded Tigers.
May, who matched Luck with three service aces, helped the Tigers hit .350 in the decisive fifth set, which Princeton controlled from the start, even if Grand Canyon did make one late rally.
The Tigers will face the Antelopes Friday at 6 pm MT (9 pm ET) in their final nonleague match of the season.
Press Release
Courtesy of Grand Canyon Athletics
The GCU men’s volleyball team suffered a tough, five set loss to the Princeton Tigers on Thursday night at Antelope Gym. The Lopes had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Tigers, losing by scores of 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 23-25, and 15-11. GCU made multiple errors on the night and now falls to 14-9 for the season.
“Princeton played well tonight,” head coach Matt Werle noted. “Our scouting report was true to form, but we just could not pass the ball tonight. This is the worst our serve and pass game has looked and that can be blamed on mental preparedness.”
In the first set, the Lopes looked like they might cruise to an easy win as they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, winning the set 25-20. However, in Sets 2 and 3, GCU struggled to pass and serve and Princeton claimed back-to-back 25-20 set wins.
The momentum turned in the Lopes favor during the fourth set. Shalev Saada and Drake Silbernagel combined for eight kills in the set, leading GCU to a 25-23 win. However, in Set 5, Princeton attacked well and got out to an early lead. Down 13-8, GCU mounted a small comeback, scoring three quick points off kills from Luke Turner and Caleb Blazer, but was unable to climb all the way out of the hole and dropped the set 15-11.
“Princeton did out block us 13 to 10, but we committed 66 total errors and that is on us,” Werle added. “We talked all week about taking care of our side of the net and we did not do that tonight.”
Silbernagel led the Lopes with 12 kills for the night while Matthew Kinnebrew and Saada reached double-digits with 10 kills each. Michael Milstein recorded 39 assists for the match and also led the Lopes with five blocks. GCU played without starting middle blocker Ashton King due to illness.
Grand Canyon will aim for a better result against Princeton tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. in Antelope Gym.
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