Two nights ago, the Ivy League was shocked to discover the unfathomable -- the Penn volleyball team is not invincible.
In their quest to clinch at least a share of the Ancient Eight title for the first time since 1990, the Quakers were thwarted by visiting Princeton, which handed Penn just its second loss in 17 matches.
Last Tuesday's match was a reality check for the Quakers, who are taking another hard look at their goals for each match and the season overall.
"Even though we want to win the Ivy League championship," Penn coach Kerry Major said, "our goal, first and foremost, is to... play good volleyball and have fun.
"Against Princeton, I think we showed what happens when we forget that goal, as far as thinking we have to win or can't lose. We have to go out and just play hard."
Major is hoping that her team will be able to stay focused this weekend, as the Quakers travel up the East Coast to visit Brown and Yale in the final weekend of regular-season play.
Penn (16-5, 10-2 Ivy League) will face the Bears tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Pizzitola Sports Center in Providence, R.I. The Quakers then head off to New Haven, Conn., on Saturday to face the Elis at 4 p.m. at the Lee Amphitheater.
A Penn victory against either Brown (14-10, 9-3) or Yale (9-12, 3-9) will guarantee the Red and Blue at least a share of the league title, and also eliminate rival Princeton from contention for this season's crown. Defeating second-place Brown would give Penn the title outright.
But a pair of Penn losses opens the door for Brown to take the championship outright for the third time since 1996, or for a two- or three-way tie between the Quakers, the Bears and the Tigers.
The Red and Blue may be shorthanded this weekend in trying to oust Brown and Yale, as Penn senior middle hitter and 2000 first team All-Ivy selection Kelly Szczerba is suffering from an injury to her achilles tendon.
"That's a critical injury that she suffered a week-and-a-half ago, and we've basically kept her off the court since then," Major said. "She was able to do some things [against Princeton], and we'll be able to put her in at critical moments if necessary.
"But we also have two middle blockers that are very good in their own right. She'd have to be playing 100 percent to beat them out for their spot. So we'll take each day as it comes."
And the Quakers are hoping that the coming days will bring an Ancient Eight title that's been 11 years in the making.
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