State College, Pa. – The Charleston Golden Eagles swept the Tigers of Princeton University in the first round of the EIVA Conference Tournament.  
 
The Basics:
Location: Rec Hall
Score: UC 3, PU 0
Records: UC 13-15 (3-7 EIVA), Princeton 12-12 (5-5 EIVA)
 
How it Happened:
The opening set of the first game of the 2024 EIVA Tournament was back and forth volleyball with both teams trading points, the set tied at 6-6. Princeton then went on to score the next four of five points to take the first extensive lead of the match ahead by three 10-7 over Charleston. The Golden Eagles did not let the early set deficit affect them as they responded with an 11-3 run to take a steady advantage over the Tigers, Charleston leading 18-13. The Golden Eagles continued to pull away, eventually closing out the opening set 25-17 and setting the tone early that the number six seed did not come to mess around.
 
Set two was once again back and forth early on, Charleston going on a mid-set run of four consecutive points to pull ahead 12-10 after trailing to the Tigers. Points continued to be traded, Charleston maintaining a lead and eventually pulling ahead 20-15, but the Tigers responded and pulled back within reach, trailing 22-21 late in the set. The next point went to Charleston taking the lead 23-21 before the last four points of the set were traded back and forth, Princeton just running out of time and Charleston taking a second set victory 25-23.
 
In the third set the Tigers jumped out ahead of the Golden Eagles 4-2, but a three-point run response by Charleston gave them the slight edge, 5-4. The Tigers then went on a three-point run of their own to take the lead right back. Charleston then scored the next two points with back-to-back kills to tie the third set at seven all. The teams traded side outs for the next several points, the set still tied all the way to 19-19. Neither team could pull away, the set continuously being tied, 23-23 now the score. The Tigers then scored the crucial 24^th point, just needing one point to clinch the set victory, but Charleston's Garret Schnitker had other plans as he got a kill to tie the set once more at 24-24. Charleston then scored the next point to take the lead, but Princeton responded with a kill to tie the set at 25-25. Garret Schnitker once again showed his determination, Getting the 26-25 advantage for his team with his 15^th kill of the evening. With the end in sight and match point on the line, Charleston put up a monster block on a Princeton attack and clinched the 27-25 set victory.
 
With the sweep victory, the Golden Eagles will advance to the EIVA Semifinal round for the first time in school history. Garret Schnitker led the offense for Charleston with 15 kills in the match. Cole Duncanson also hit .800% in the victory and had four blocks including the final block that advanced Charleston to day two of the tournament.
 
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will take on the Patriots of George Mason tomorrow, April 18^th at 4:30PM in the semifinal round of the EIVA Tournament. Winner will advance to the finals and take on the winner of top seeded Penn State and Harvard.