FLYING HIGH: Princeton University men’s volleyball player Nyherowo Omene (#25), right, leaps to make a hit in a game this season. Last Friday, Omene led Princeton with 19 kills as it topped Penn State 3-1 (25-22, 25-27, 25-18, 25-23) to clinch the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) regular season title. The Tigers, who fell 3-0 to Jenn Stare last Saturday to give to 14-10 overall and 10-2 EIVA, are next in action when they host an EIVA semifinal contest on April 24 at Dillon Gym with the victor advancing to the final on April 26. (Photo by Andee Fagan – On NJ, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Justin Feil

Nyherowo Omene is hoping to end his Princeton University men’s volleyball career the way it began — with an Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tournament championship.

The Tigers last won the tourney in 2022 when Omene burst onto the scene in a promising freshman year. But Princeton hasn’t been able to win it since then.

“The historical significance isn’t lost on me,” said Omene.

“This is the second time in Princeton history that we’ve hosted the tournament. And while we did win my freshman year, to host and have the potential to win is an extra special thing so it’s really cool.”

Last Friday, senior pin hitter Omene led Princeton with 19 kills as it topped Penn State 3-1 (25-22, 25-27, 25-18, 25-23) to clinch the EIVA regular season title and the No. 1 tournament seed and right to host. Fellow senior Henry Wedbush added 42 assists in the win.

A day later, Penn State beat Princeton 3-0 in the regular season finale with Omene sitting out the game as the Tigers finished 14-10 overall, 10-2 in the EIVA.

The top-seeded Tigers have a quarterfinal bye and will host the winner of No. 4 seed George Mason and No. 5 Charleston in a semifinal contest on April 24 at Dillon Gym. The final is set for Saturday evening at Dillon with the winner earning the league’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA tournament.

“The regular season is nice because you get to host and that’s really exciting and special,” said Princeton head coach Sam Shweisky. “But now you gotta do the work. Now you gotta win the tournament. So this is just one step. What we’re trying to do is win this tournament and get to go to the NCAAs. So we’re in my mind just kind of just trucking ahead.”

Omene has been looking forward to this since the Tigers won three years ago. The 2022 title still holds a special memory and is inspiration for this year’s squad. Whereas Omene was new to it as a freshman, he now is a key leader for Princeton, which needs the 2024 first-team All-EIVA selection to play up to his potential.

“Knowing that me and Henry and our manager Mason (Tate) were there when we won and won in incredible fashion gives us the context for how special it is and how cool it is to do what we did,” said Omene. “So I think for me it’s not added pressure of oh, I have the last chance to this, it’s more so I’m trying to use that to inform how I lead the rest of this team. And I think so far it’s been working really well.”

Omene, who hails from South Holland, Ill., is a 6’7 force on the court. He’s a quiet leader though he has been more outspoken this season, and Wedbush leads with more fire and visibly wears his passions on his sleeve while orchestrating the offense. Together, they have led Princeton to an outstanding season.

“They both lead in such different ways, but the combination is incredible,” said Shweisky. “I’d say most guys probably have one of the two of them that they can lean on, they kind of gravitate more to one camp or the other, but it’s great. It’s great when you know that every guy on the team has a captain that they can kind of confide in and lean on and for support and for guidance.”

Omene knew things would be a bit different in his final collegiate season. There’s a natural elevation of expectations that comes with being a senior.

“The level of play that I’m expected to play at has not changed, but there’s an added level of responsibility and leadership that I share with Henry Wedbush on the court as well that I think has changed this season a little bit,” said Omene. “But in terms of the volleyball, the volleyball is the same that I’ve been playing since freshman year in high school and I think that actually grounds me to not get you sucked into the moment and the highs and the lows and the stats and all that.”

Omene has always let his game do the loudest talking. He led Princeton in blocks his first two seasons, then this season put together his finest all-around year yet. He leads the team in kills with 346 — more than 100 more than No. 2 Mason Rice, is tops among Tigers with 36 service aces, is second in digs with 127 and third in blocks with 64.

“Nyherowo has been incredible,” said Shweisky. “His numbers are incredible, but just the way he carries himself — his poise on the court — is tremendous.”

Omene is aiming to be at his best in his final games at Dillon Gym before he’ll pursue a career in finance in Los Angeles after graduation. He’s trying to convey the importance of each moment to his less experienced teammates.

“I think the key is remembering that it doesn’t have to be pretty, it doesn’t have to be polished,” said Omene. “You just have to survive and advance. So that comes with an extra level of grit and determination with these matches and just digging and finding that extra gear, doing whatever you have to do to, again, survive and advance.”

For Princeton, this year’s success has come about a little differently than some years. Alumni who have come back to watch the Tigers have marveled at their defense. There’s been a different buy-in from the players this year that has made their defense something special.

“Defense, that’s where grit comes from and that’s where things start to turn on when you’re down,” said Shweisky. “And that’s been a really big, big difference we had.”

Defense was always a specialty that came easily to Shweisky as a player at Vassar College, but he’s had a harder time getting that to translate to his players. Assistant coach Joe Norton has found a statistically sound blocking defensive system that the players have picked up on this year. Norton has found a way that connects well with the players.

“I give Joe a lot of credit,” said Shweisky.“He’s come in with some really nice fresh ideas and has been a great trainer at the gym. And the guys have responded really well.”

Princeton will be prepared to respond to the ebb and flow of the EIVA Tournament games. The Tigers lost a meaningless game to Penn State in the season finale, and their only other loss this season has come early in the year against Charleston.

“Different teams have different styles, different teams present different challenges,” said Shweisky. “Charleston has similarly one guy who’s like a 6’9 outside hitter. They have a really fast explosive guy outside. George Mason has got a really strong middle and a lefty that does some different things. So it’s really just stylistically and kind of being ready to game plan and mentally prepare for whichever one comes out of that match. But in terms of talent, all these teams are loaded with talent and any night, any team can go off and be spectacular. So we’re just trying to prepare for all of it.”

Princeton is hopeful that they are the ones celebrating on their home court Saturday. The Tigers have been No. 1 in the EIVA for much of the year, and they spent much of the season focusing on the process of developing, and that came with positive results. Now as EIVA Tournament hosts, they hope to reaffirm that top spot.

“A lot of guys on this team have worked hard for this opportunity,” said Omene. “While we’re really excited we’re also putting our heads down and looking towards the light at the end of the tunnel, which is to win the conference and make a run at NCAAs.”