(Posted March 26, 2005)

Juniata 3, Princeton 0

Princeton, N.J. ? The Juniata College men?s volleyball team extended its winning streak to nine matches and claimed its seventh EIVA Tait Division win with a 3-0 victory over Princeton University in Princeton Saturday afternoon. The Eagles are now 13-6 overall and 7-3 in the Tait Division. Princeton dropped to 3-10 overall and 2-7 in the conference.

Juniata claimed the match in three tight games, posting winning scores of 30-28, 30-28 and 30-25. It was Juniata?s seventh victory over a Division I opponent this season, including five during its current nine-match winning streak.

Nate Ocasio (Northeastern/Manchester) led Juniata as he posted a team-high 15 kills, along with six blocks, six digs and two aces.

Juniata held the lead for the majority of each game. A late kill from Ricky Ziegler (Northeastern/Manchester) gave Juniata a late 29-25 lead in game one. The Tigers then reeled off three points to pull within one, but the Eagles capped the game with a kill from Jeremy Barndt (Souderton/Souderton).

Game two was nearly a mirror image as a Barndt kill again put Juniata at game point with a 29-25 edge. Again the Tigers climbed back into it with a Pete Eichler kill cutting Juniata?s lead to 29-28. This time Juniata answered with a kill from Cordt Withum (Penn Manor/Holtwood) to seal the win.

In game three it was Juniata that went on the late run. A block from Princeton made the score 22-20 in favor of Juniata. Juniata then closed the match by scoring eight of the final 13 points to earn the win.

Along with Ocasio three other Eagles finished in double figures as Barndt, Withum and Nick Bernardo each posted 10 kills. Withum added six blocks for the Juniata defense. Ziegler passed out 43 assists and helped Juniata hit .274 as a team in the match. Tim Cole (Pennsbury/Yardley) recorded 10 digs for the Juniata defense.

Sean Vitousek was tops for Princeton as he finished with 15 kills. Eichler was also in double figures with 12 kills. Jack Pritchard finished 31 assists for the Tigers, with Mark Stevens adding a match-high 11 digs.

Juniata will put its winning streak on the line on Wednesday when the Eagles host EIVA Tait rival Penn State.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.