For the second year in a row, the women’s volleyball team (14-10, 9-5 Ivy) was swept 3-0 by Princeton (18-6, 11-3 Ivy) in the Ivy League Tournament semifinals on Friday night.
Despite the loss, the team delivered a strong season, with many players taking home awards. Jessie Golden ’26 was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. Golden was also named First-Team All-Ivy alongside standout player Sophia Wolfson ’28, while powerhouse hitter Mariia Sidorova ’26 earned Second Team All-Ivy honors.
During Friday’s game, Wolfson and Sarah Shaw ’29 led the team with 9 kills each, while Julia Kakkis ’28 picked up a remarkable 30 assists.
“I want our team to know they are playing very high level, competitive volleyball and their belief in themselves and their teammates should be grounded in that,” Head Coach Taylor Virtue told The Herald.
Having lost to Princeton earlier in the month, the Bears entered Friday’s match-up knowing that the No. 1-seeded Tigers would pose a formidable challenge. But when the opening whistle blew, Bruno came out hot, jumping to a 6-3 lead in the first set with 3 kills by Sidorova. Following kills by Wolfson, Shaw and Fisayo Afonja ’28, Bruno widened the lead to 15-10.
But the tide quickly turned when Princeton launched a 7-1 run to take the lead 17-16. Suddenly locked in a tight battle for the first set, both teams traded points until the score reached 19-19. Three errors by Bruno buoyed a 5-1 streak for the Tigers, bringing Princeton to set point — even though the Tigers trailed the Bears for much of the set.
Following a service error from Princeton, Kakkis and Wolfson fended off a second set point with an expert block at the left side of the net. But unfortunately for Bruno, the third time proved to be the charm, and following a spike to the right corner, Princeton secured the first set 25-22.
Kills by Afonja and Sidorova delivered the Bears a 3-1 lead to kick off the second set — but Princeton quickly fired back with three consecutive points, pulling ahead 4-3. But Bruno refused to crack under pressure and Wolfson delivered the equalizer with a pinpoint spike to the middle of the court.
Despite Bruno’s early fight, Princeton attacked with 5 straight points to pull ahead 9-4. Although the Bears tried to keep pace, the Tigers maintained the upper hand throughout the set, widening their lead and ultimately securing the set 25-15.
With Princeton just one set away from securing a spot in the tournament finals, Brown had to lay it all on the line. To begin the third set, the Bears bared their teeth, matching the Tigers point-for-point. After the score reached double digits on both sides, consecutive aces by Afonja claimed a 12-11 Bruno lead.
Though the teams stayed neck-and-neck earlier in the game, once the score hit 14-14, the Tigers pounced. Winning 5 of the next 6 points, Princeton surged to a commanding 19-15 advantage.
The Bears did their best to regain their footing, trading points with the Tigers until the score reached 23-19. But after a lethal spike by Princeton, which landed just inside the right corner, Brown was staring down the barrel of defeat: It was match point.
Still, the Bears weren’t done fighting. Wolfson saved the first match point with a decisive kill, and on the next, Kakkis tapped a block sharply over the net, giving the Tigers no chance to respond.
Nonetheless, the Tigers’ lead proved insurmountable. Despite an impressive diving dig by Kakkis, the next point secured the set and match for Princeton, ending Brown’s season.
Virtue said she hopes the loss inspires the Bears team as they prepare for the coming season.
“I also want them to be motivated by falling short of our goal of an Ivy League Championship and be eager to get back to work this spring,” she said.
