Feb. 7, 2008
Complete Match Notes in PDF Format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The second-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team hosts MIVA powers No. 12 Loyola-Chicago and No. 10 IPFW this weekend at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions and Ramblers square off on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the South Gym of Rec Hall while Saturday, the Lions meet up with the Mastodons at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Gym.
Gametracker will be available at www.GoPSUsports.com for the IPFW match. The Loyola-Chicago match will be played in South Gym, which is without internet access, due to wrestling in main gym.
Previewing Penn State
The Nittany Lions enter the weekend with a 10-0 record after sweeping Juniata on Tuesday night (30-21, 30-22, 30-20) at Rec Hall. Junior outside hitter Matt Anderson leads the squad with 5.35 kills per game while junior opposite Ryan Sweitzer provides 3.68 kpg, junior middle hitter Max Holt adds in 3.18 kpg on .518 hitting and sophomore middle hitter Max Lipsitz chips in 2.52 kpg on .496 hitting. Senior setter Luke Murray directs the offense with 13.68 assists per game and freshman libero Dennis Del Valle tops the defense with 3.25 digs per game. Holt heads the blocking list with 1.36 blocks per game as Lipsitz and Murray add in 1.12 and 1.03 bpg, respectively. As a team, Penn State is hitting .361 with 16.12 kills per game, 1.18 service aces per game, 9.85 digs per game and 3.20 blocks per game.
Scouting Loyola-Chicago
The Ramblers enter Friday's contest with a 5-3 overall mark after falling to No. 8 Ohio State in five games (26-30, 30-27, 16-30, 30-28, 13-15) Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio. Senior opposite Ian Anderson leads the team with 4.32 kills per game as sophomore outside hitter Kris Berzins, junior middle hitter Nick Lamoureux and junior outside hitter Joe Guntli add in 3.57, 3.11 and 3.15 kpg, respectively. Redshirt freshman setter Mike Hutz dishes out 13.79 assists per game and also leads the squad with 54 total digs (1.93 dpg) while Lamoureux tops the blocking chart with 1.00 blocks per game. As a team, Loyola is hitting .308 with 16.04 kills per game, 2.04 service aces per game, 8.21 digs per game and 2.11 blocks per game.
The Series: Penn State vs. Loyola-Chicago
Penn State trails Loyola-Chicago, 5-4, in a series that began in 1996. The last meeting was a three-game Rambler win (30-23, 30-24, 30-25) on April 14, 2007, in Chicago, Ill. The last meeting in Rec Hall was a three-game Nittany Lion victory (30-28, 30-27, 30-27) on Jan. 31, 2003.
Scouting IPFW
The Mastodons come into the weekend with a 4-2 record after defeating Quincy in three games (30-24, 30-22, 30-25) Friday night. Senior outside hitters C.J. Macias and Jason Yhost lead the squad with 3.96 and 3.91 kills per game, respectively, as senior middle hitter Josh Stewart adds in 2.23 kpg. Senior setter Graydon Ainsworth provides 11.47 assists per game and sophomore libero Matt Pliske heads the defensive efforts with 2.95 digs per game. Freshman middle hitter Oliver Kook sits atop the blocking list with 1.30 blocks per game. As a team, IPFW is hitting .271 with 14.00 kills per game, 2.00 service aces per game, 8.96 digs per game and 2.76 blocks per game.
The Series: Penn State vs. IPFW
Penn State leads IPFW, 33-13, in a series that began in 1984. The last meeting was a five-game Nittany Lion win (30-20, 30-32, 30-23, 25-30, 15-13) on March 24, 2007 at Rec Hall.
Next Up
Penn State remains at home, hosting EIVA foe and No. 14 George Mason on Friday, Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the South Gym of Rec Hall before welcoming Princeton on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 4:00 p.m. in the Main Gym of Rec Hall.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.
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