March 6, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
The top-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (18-0, 9-0 EIVA Tait) travels to conference opponents No. 14 George Mason and Princeton this weekend. The Nittany Lions and Patriots square off in Fairfax, Va., on Friday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GMU Fieldhouse before the squad heads to Princeton, N.J., and Dillon Gym to face the Tigers on Saturday, March 8 at 4:00 p.m.
Penn State needs just one win to claim its 24th Eastern regular-season championship and its 13th under head coach Mark Pavlik, which would also be its 10th straight league title.
Previewing Penn State
The Nittany Lions enter Friday's match with a perfect 18-0 record as the only undefeated Division I team in the country. The squad also holds a 9-0 mark in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) and needs just one win to claim its 24th Eastern regular-season championship and its 13th under head coach Mark Pavlik, which would also be its 10th straight league title. Junior outside hitter Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) leads the squad and ranks second in the nation with an average of 5.56 kills per game on .397 hitting, good for 19th in the country. Junior middle hitter Max Holt (Cincinnati, Ohio) leads the nation, hitting .575 with 3.20 kills per game and junior opposite Ryan Sweitzer (Lancaster, Pa.) chips in 3.44 kills per game to sit third on the team. Senior setter Luke Murray (East Petersburg, Pa.) directs the offense with 13.37 assists per game, placing him second in the country, while freshman libero Dennis Del Valle (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) is 10th in the nation with 2.67 digs per game. Holt heads the blocking list and sits 11th in the nation with 1.37 blocks per game and sophomore middle hitter Max Lipsitz (Williamsville, N.Y.) adds in 1.12 blocks per game. As a team, Penn State is leading the country with an astounding .401 team hitting percentage while also averaging 16.09 kills per game, 1.68 service aces per game, 8.70 digs per game and 3.16 blocks per game.
The Series: Penn State vs. George Mason
Penn State leads George Mason, 80-13, in a series that began in 1977. The previous meeting this season was a three-game Nittany Lion victory (30-20, 30-19, 30-24) on Feb. 15 at Rec Hall. The last meeting in Fairfax, Va., was a four-game Penn State win (32-30, 19-30, 30-25, 30-20) on April 7, 2007.
The Series: Penn State vs. Princeton
Penn State leads Princeton, 35-2, in a series that began in 1977. The previous meeting this season was a three-game Nittany Lion win (30-19, 30-16, 33-31) on Feb. 16 at Rec Hall. The last meeting in Princeton, N.J., was a three-game Penn State victory (30-17, 30-23, 30-22) on Feb. 23, 2007.
Next Up
Penn State heads to the West Coast to face NAIA-power Cal Baptist on March 14 before meeting No. 4 Long Beach State for a March 15 showdown at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif. Penn State returns to Rec Hall on March 28 for a 7:00 p.m. meeting with No. 10 Ohio State that will be televised live on WPSU in the State College area and will also be a Code Blue event. Penn State then hosts No. 9 Ball State on Saturday, March 29 in a contest that will also be Senior Night.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.