Tonight's 7 p.m. contest at the Palestra isn't going to be your run-of-the-mill Penn-Princeton volleyball matchup -- this one's for a few extra marbles.
For one thing, it will be the last match at the Palestra for Penn's three seniors -- setter Jodie Antypas, outside hitter Stephanie Horan and middle hitter Kelly Szczerba.
"It's four years coming to an end in the place where I started, and I just think that this is an incredible gym to play in," Horan said.
It is also the last shot at the Tigers for these three seniors.
"I'm hoping I won't be too emotional for the game, but it's kind of scary that this is my culminating event," Antypas said. "I'm excited, and I really want to beat Princeton, but at the same time I don't really want to play my last match at the Palestra as part of Penn volleyball."
Last month Penn (16-4, 10-1 Ivy League) beat Princeton (13-8, 7-4) for the first time since 1993 at Dillon Gym in Princeton, N.J.
Now, the Quakers want to beat the Tigers again -- this time on their own court.
"It's going to be a really emotional match just because it's my last here," Horan said. "It's my last time to play Princeton. I'm really glad we beat them the first time, but it would be even sweeter if we could win again."
A Penn win tonight will officially eliminate Princeton from contention for the 2001 Ivy crown.
More significantly, by beating the Tigers the Quakers will earn at least a share of the Ancient Eight title for the first time since 1990.
"Obviously emotions will come into play," Penn coach Kerry Major said. "But what I'm going to do and I hope the seniors do is look at the big picture and think that we're actually going to win the championship, rather than look at it as playing the last match on our home court.
The Quakers are also hoping for a large fan showing at this important match between arch-rivals.
"We're trying to get a lot of people out here, talking to all our friends and having a little get-together at our house before the match," Penn junior Kai Gonsorowski said. "We just want to show [Princeton] that this is our gym."
Major, too, is hoping for a large turnout.
"I would like to see the Penn student body come out and support us," Major said. "There's nothing more exciting than a Penn-Princeton match. We have the upper hand for the first time in nine years and it would just be really fun to be there with us, cheering with us and celebrating with us when we do beat Princeton."
