PU women’s volleyball is streaking

Henritze, Tigers pick up from last year

By: Justin Feil
   The Princeton University women’s volleyball team has picked up right where it left off last season.
   The Tigers, winners of their final three games last year, have opened the season with 11 straight wins. Their latest win was a 3-0 victory over previously unbeaten Juniata on Sunday. It was the first home game for Princeton, which won 10 straight away from Jadwin Gym to start the year in promising fashion. Saturday, Princeton rallied at the University of Pennsylvania after dropping the opening game.
   "Most satisfying has been feeling like we have made improvements from last year," said PU sophomore Parker Henritze, "and seeing our new players come in and contribute in big ways. We have an amazing freshman class."
   Henritze was a big part of the Tigers’ season last year when she was honored as Ivy League Rookie of the Year. She was named Rookie of the Week five times during her first season with the Tigers. She led Princeton with 4.73 kills per game and was second to Jenny McReynolds, the national leader in digs per game, in digs per game. She also had 48 aces, 12 more than anybody else in the Ivies.
   "I was thrilled to join the team at a time when there was a spot open for me, but more importantly at a time when the team was doing well and working hard," said Henritze, an Atlanta resident. "I was thrilled with the chance to play and shocked that I was able to contribute as a freshman."
   When last year ended, the Tigers sat in fourth place in the Ivy League. In Princeton’s final three wins last year was something to build on. They had a sweep of Ivy champion Cornell. And though they lost three seniors to graduation, they had talent coming back. Henritze, along with several promising returners, gave the Tigers hope for this season. But no one expected this good of a start.
   "I think that he surprises to the 11-0 start have been the games where we really showed heart and either fought back from behind (against Juniata) or rallied to the finish (against Stony Brook)," Henritze said. "In those matches we showed a high level of endurance and perseverance for so early in the season. In some ways, yes, it is a surprise we are 11-0 considering we have faced some tough competition, especially with Juniata who has beat us the past two years. On the other hand, it is not a surprise because we have been working very hard and feel we have earned each win."
   The Tigers look to remain unbeaten when they go on the road for a pair of Ivy League games this weekend. Princeton plays at Dartmouth tonight and at Harvard on Saturday and hopes to continue its solid play.
   "Generally, the keys to the fast start have been depth, consistency and focus," Henritze said. "More specifically, I think that Lindsay Ensign has been a force in the middle as well as freshman Sheena Donahue on the outside, all of which is made possible by incredible defense from Sasha Sadrai and Emily Turner."
   Turner has filled in for McReynolds and leads the team with 155 digs. Henritze again ranks second. She is also second to Ensign in kills per game with 3.92. Henritze feels better prepared in her second collegiate season for an even bigger year.
   "This year," Henritze said, "I have come into the season with a general understanding of the landscape, so to speak, of the Ivy League competition as well as having been acclimated physically to the length of collegiate matches and rigor of the season."
   Wins in their first 11 opening matches has also helped the Tigers. They are more confident, and have built on that confidence to win a number of close matches.
   "I think the come from behind victories where we have fought back will be a huge asset later on in the season," Henritze said. "(They) will serve as reminders of what we have done and can do."
   Princeton is still looking to improve in a number of areas. Defense is always an area that teams can strengthen. The Tigers hope to be more consistent in blocking. Princeton has seen glimpses of just how good it could be, and its latest two wins, over Penn and Juniata, .
   "They serve as good markers for where we are as a team," Henritze said, "and help us gauge between last year and this year as well as what we need to continue working on."
   The wins are the latest triumphs that have the Tigers on track for their goals of an Ivy title and an NCAA Tournament berth. In the end, it’s not the winning streak or who they beat. It’s those big goals that matter most for Parker Henritze and the PU women’s volleyball team.