HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 24, 2006) – Freshman middle hitter Andrew Cranford (Bel Air, Md.) collected eight kills while hitting .375 (8-2-16) as the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s volleyball team (14-8) suffered a tough 3-0 loss to Division I Princeton University on Friday evening at Canavan Arena in Hoboken, N.J. All three games were close as the seventh-ranked Ducks’ four-match win streak came to an end following the 23-30, 26-30, 24-30 setback to the Tigers (3-7).
The Ducks received a solid performance out of junior setter/outside hitter Michael Schulte (San Bernardino, Calif.), who had 34 assists and five digs. Schulte also hit .500 with two kills and no attack errors in four total attempts. Junior outside/middle hitter Scott Stoner (Wantagh, N.Y.) added eight kills, four digs and six total blocks. Sophomore outside hitter/libero Brian Carlson (West Seneca, N.Y.) chipped in with six kills and seven digs. Freshman outside hitter/setter Joe Trinsey (Wilmington, Del.) finished with seven kills and five digs.
Princeton received 19 kills and 10 digs from sophomore outside hitter Peter Eichler (Pacific Palisades, Calif.). Freshman setter Brandon Denham (Camarillo, Calif.) had 40 assists and five digs in the match.
In the first game, the Ducks stayed with the Tigers early on as they only trailed 14-13 following a kill by junior middle hitter Will Foley (Clifton Park, N.Y.). Princeton scored 10 of the next 11 points to open a comfortable lead (24-15).
Stevens played well once again in the second game as the two teams battled to a 13-13 tie. Princeton responded with a 10-4 run to open a six-point cushion (23-17). The Ducks battled back to within 26-22 on a kill by Stoner, but the Tigers held on for the 30-26 victory.
In the third game, Princeton raced out to a 15-9 lead and never looked back. Stevens was able to cut the Tigers’ lead to four points on three separate occasions, but the Ducks were never really able to mount a charge.
Stevens will be back in action on Sunday when it hosts Ramapo College and Polytechnic University in a tri-match. The Ducks will face Ramapo at 11 a.m. Ramapo and Polytechnic will play at 1 p.m. Stevens and Polytechnic will square off at 3 p.m.
