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[Editor’s note: Off the Block in collaboration with the EIVA is presenting The Top 15 EIVA Non-Conference Matches. This list spotlights the best non-conference matches scheduled for EIVA teams in 2019 and will be the first time several of these matches have been publicly announced. Princeton versus Lewis is ranked No. 14 on the list.]
Princeton will have a chance next season to pull off a feat it’s never accomplished in program history — beating Lewis.
The Tigers and Flyers after a two-year hiatus will renew their series with Princeton playing host to the non-conference match on March 9.
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs. Lewis in the inaugural matches of the series swept a home-and-home series in 2013 and then swept Princeton the last time they placed each other in 2016.
Both teams return all-conference starters after finishing last season in the top four of their conferences.
Princeton reached the 2018 EIVA Tournament finals and was one win away from advancing to the program’s first NCAA Tournament in 20 years. The team also won five of its final six home matches last season, including a five-game comeback victory against then-No. 10 Penn State.
First-Team All-EIVA opposite Greg Huhmann, who led the conference with a 3.69 kills per game average in 2018, highlights the starters returning for the Tigers. In addition, setter Joe Kelly spent the offseason helping the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team finish in fourth place at the NORCECA U21 Continental Championship.
Lewis concluded the 2018 season ranked No. 10 in both the national coaches poll and national media poll and advanced to the MIVA Tournament semifinals.
The Flyers have five All-MIVA starters returning in 2019, including All-American outside attacker Ryan Coenen. Coenen led the MIVA averaging 3.79 kills per game and earned All-American honors for the second straight year.
Lewis is on a nine-match winning streak against EIVA opponents dating back to the beginning of the 2017 season.