Rutgers University
Princeton
Rutgers Volleyball Outlasted by Princeton
Sep 11 | Women's Volleyball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (September 10, 2011) - Sophomore Sheridan Taylor (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) had a career-best match, but Rutgers University volleyball fell to in-state rival Princeton, 3-1, in the finale of the Rutgers Invitational on Saturday night at the College Ave Gym. Binghamton won the tournament, winning all three matches during the weekend.
The Scarlet Knights (5-7) finished the event at 1-2, defeating Howard and losing to Binghamton and Princeton.
"We were just tired, playing only seven or eight people [due to injuries], but that is no excuse," said head coach CJ Werneke after the Princeton match. "It took us a while to get into our rhythm and groove tonight. Princeton executed really well from the beginning."
Taylor - playing at middle blocker due to an injury - was hot from the beginning, firing seven opening-set kills to give RU a spark. She went on to set career and match-highs in the contest, accumulating 18 kills and 21.5 points to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
"She does whatever we ask her to do," said Werneke of Taylor. "Sheridan is a great kid to have in the program and I am glad that she performed the way that she did this weekend. Now she knows and we know what she is capable of. That is probably more important moving forward in that she has the ability at this level at multiple positions to contribute."
Princeton (5-3) nearly won the match in straight-sets, but Rutgers saved six match points in the third to extend the contest into the fourth set. However, the Tigers clinched the match in the fourth, 25-23.
Setter Stephanie Zielinski (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) set a season-high with 61 assists in the match for RU, totaling a tournament-best 11.08 assists per set. The junior also led the tournament with 12 service aces.
Defensively, Zielinski and Kallie Pence (College Station, Texas) led the Scarlet Knights with 18 digs. Alyssa Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Kelsey Ross (Orinda, Calif.) each set career highs with 15 and 13 digs off the bench, respectively.
Hillary Ford had a match-high 23 digs for the Tigers.
Binghamton's Iva Partaleva was named the Tournament MVP, racking up 52 kills on the weekend. Amanda Dettmann (Binghamton), Tosin Elebute (Howard), Hillary Ford (Princeton), Sarah Hanna (Princeton), Alex Roland (Binghamton) and Sheridan Taylor (Rutgers) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Click here for the Tournament Central homepage.
The Scarlet Knights will return to the College Ave Gym on Tuesday at 7 p.m., taking on Lehigh. The match will be broadcasted on RVision via ScarletKnights.com.
