PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania volleyball team (9-8, 2-6) dropped a 3-0 decision to the Princeton Tigers (11-6, 7-1) on Friday night at The Palestra.
 
The Quakers started off the match on fire, taking an early 9-4 lead behind three kills each from Margaret Planek and Caroline Leng. The Tigers responded quickly after a timeout, outscoring the Quakers 21-10 and taking the first set 25-19. Leng and Planek combined for nine of Penn's 13 kills in the set.
 
In what proved to be one of the most competitive sets of the season, the Quakers and Tigers traded blows early and often. After a 19-14 lead by the Tigers, the Quakers came roaring back, going on a 9-2 run and getting within three points of the victory. The run was spurred by a tremendous sequence from Autumn Leak, who tallied four kills and block assist during those 11 points. However, the Tigers got just enough out of their offense and stole the second set 26-24.
 
The Quakers provided the same level of energy in the third set, trading the lead with Tigers twice and tying the game eight times. Raven Sulaimon provided a jolt for the offense with three kills and as a team the Quakers tallied four blocks in the third set. However, Princeton outlasted the Quakers, taking two of the final three points after the Quakers make it 21-23 to win the third set 25-22.
 
The Red and Blue were able to get strong performances from multiple players, led by Leng and Leak, who each tallied eight kills. Leng was incredibly efficient, recording a .500 hitting percentage. Carmina Raquel turned in another vintage performance on defense, recording 16 digs and three assists.
 
Penn heads out next weekend on the road for two games in New York, as they face Columbia on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Cornell on Saturday night at 5 p.m. The Quakers fell 3-1 to Columbia and 3-2 to Cornell at The Palestra earlier this season.