Volleyball tries to halt fall at Niagara

There are few things as magnificent as Niagara Falls. As it cascades down hundreds of feet, it is hard to find anything as powerful as the roar of Niagara River. But the Penn volleyball team can think of one. Hopefully for the Quakers, the Penn bench will have a reason to roar just as loudly when they step on the court tonight against Niagara at 7:30. Tonight's game against Niagara kicks off a three-game road weekend for the Quakers (8-7). Penn will also face Canisius tomorrow, and York University of Canada, Sunday. This trip is important because it will give the Quakers a rest from the rigorous Ivy League schedule they have had to endure. In two and a half weeks, Penn has already played five of its seven Ancient Eight opponents. Just three days ago the Red and the Blue fell to Princeton in three straight sets. At 3-2, Penn is in the middle of the Ivy League hunt. Unfortunately for the Quakers, and for the rest of the conference at that, the hunt is for second place. Unless Princeton is upset next weekend by both Cornell and Columbia, the Tigers, now at 5-0, will wrap up the top seed for the Ivy League tournament. Thus, the battle for number two is heating up. The fight for second place is important because whoever finishes as the runner-up will not have to face Princeton in the tournament until the championship game. Fortunately for the Quakers, their destiny is in their own hands. Currently Penn is in third place with a 3-2 record, trailing Cornell who is 3-0. If Princeton holds true to form and defeats the Big Red next weekend, and Penn does the same, the Quakers will secure a second-place finish if someone else knocks off Yale (2-2). If no one defeats the Elis, Penn will fall to third in the conference because Yale defeated the Quakers in the league opener. This weekend will provide the Red and the Blue with three low-pressure games that will allow them to touch things up for the stretch run. Niagara (8-12) is struggling, having three of its last five games, including one to Columbia. The Purple Eagles are led on offense by hitter Jessica Anderson, who is first on the team with 268 kills, nearly twice as many as Kelly Cruttenden, who is second with 137. The team is sparked by Karen Catalano, who is not only the setter, but is also perhaps the Eagles' best defensive player as well. She is leading the team in service aces, and ranks third in digs. Unlike Niagara, Canisius is hot. After getting off to a slow start, the Golden Griffins (10-8) have turned it around by winning five of their last six games. However, earlier in the year, Canisius was shut out by Harvard, and the Crimson is winless in the Ivy League so far. It is important the Quakers refine their skills this weekend to toughen up for the rest of conference play. They play three mediocre opponents, so the pressure is minimal. Penn needs to stay healthy and find some consistency to forge ahead in what has been an up and down season. When the Quakers stand at the falls this weekend, perhaps they will be inspired when they realize how hard it is to swim up stream.