Feb. 24, 2009
University Park, Pa. - The third-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (11-1) hosts EIVA-foe Saint Francis (7-7) on Wed., Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Rec Hall. Live stats and video will be available via a link at www.GoPSUsports.com for the match. Admission is free.
Previewing Penn State
The Nittany Lions come into Wednesday's match with 11-1 overall record after falling at Loyola-Chicago in five games (24-30, 30-25, 30-25, 27-30, 9-15) and defeating IPFW in four games (30-27, 30-32, 30-28, 30-22) last weekend on the road. Junior outside hitter Will Price leads the Lions with 3.78 kills per game as senior opposite Ryan Sweitzer and junior middle hitter Max Lipsitz add in 3.34 and 3.15 kills per game, respectively. Redshirt freshman setter Edgardo Goas directs the offense with 12.53 assists per game while sophomore libero Dennis Del Valle tops the defense with 2.83 digs per game. Senior middle hitter Max Holt heads the blocking list with 1.15 blocks per game as Lipsitz chips in 1.12 bpg. As a team, Penn State is hitting a nation-leading .397 with 15.47 kills per game, 2.02 service aces per game, 8.63 digs per game and 2.70 blocks per game.
Scouting Saint Francis
The Red Flash enter the contest with a 7-7 record after falling at Loyola-Chicago in five (30-27, 27-30, 25-30, 31-29, 12-15) and getting swept at Lewis (23-30, 27-30, 18-30) last weekend on the road. Junior outside hitter Jordan Varee leads the team with 5.47 kills per game as junior outside hitter Nick Rivett chips in 3.50 kills per game. Senior setter Shane Conley dishes out 11.92 assists per game to lead the offense while Varee also tops the defensive charts with 87 total digs. Junior middle hitter Pete Freyer heads the blocking list with 1.25 blocks per game. As a team, Saint Francis is hitting .287 with 14.57 kills per game, 1.13 service aces per game, 9.06 digs per game and 2.59 blocks per game.
The Series: Penn State vs. Saint Francis
Penn State leads Saint Francis, 23-0, in a series that began in 1995. The last meeting was a three-game Nittany Lion win (30-19, 30-26, 30-21) on Jan. 30, 2009, in Loretto, Pa. The last meeting at Rec Hall was a three-game Penn State victory (30-21, 30-13, 30-17) on Feb. 23, 2008.
Next Up
Penn State remains at home this weekend, hosting Lewis and NJIT. The Nittany Lions and Flyers square off on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. before the Lions meet the Highlanders on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2:00 p.m. in the South Gym of Rec Hall due to a men's gymnastics meet in Main Gym.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State men's volleyball 2009 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets At Hershey.