Jan. 22, 2010
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The sixth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team travels to Springfield College on Saturday, Jan. 23. Action is set to begin at 5 p.m. in Springfield's Blake Arena.
Live stats will be available via a link at GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State Preview
The No. 6 Nittany Lions opened the 2010 home slate with a 3-0 (30-22, 30-20, 30-20) sweep of EIVA foe Saint Francis (Pa.) on Friday, Jan. 15. Penn State takes on Springfield at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23 before returning home on Tuesday, Jan. 26 to face Juniata at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
The Nittany Lions attacked at a .398 clip, while holding the Red Flash to a meager .081. Penn State averaged 17.67 kills per set, 15.67 assists per set, 3.00 aces per set, 10.67 digs per set and 2.00 blocks per set. Senior Will Price led the team averaging 5.33 kps, while redshirt sophomore Joe Sunder averaged 4.67 kps. Sunder also led the team with a 1.33 aces per set average. Redshirt sophomore setter Edgardo Goas averaged 13.00 assists per set and junior libero Dennis Del Valle had a team-best 3.33 dps.
Penn State vs. Springfield
The Nittany Lions own a 28-0 record against Springfield in a series dating back to 1977. Penn State met Springfield twice in 2009 in back-to-back matches. The Lions swept the Pride on Jan. 31 in Rec Hall with set scores of 30-28, 30-22 and 30-28. On Feb. 7, the two squads met again with the Lions securing a 3-0 (30-21, 30-20, 30-20) victory at Springfield.
Scouting the Pride
The Pride heads into this weekend 0-2 after suffering a 3-0 setback to then No. 3 Santa Cruz on Jan. 15 and a 3-1 loss to Cal Baptist on Jan. 16. Prior to taking on the Nittany Lions on Jan. 23, Springfield travels to Vassar on Jan. 22. Senior AJ Nally leads the Pride so far this season with 25 kills (3.57 kps) , while senior Eric Shoemaker paces the offense with 85 assists (12.14 aps). Shoemaker also leads the team in aces (4) and digs (10). Freshman Greg Falcone is the team's leading blocker with seven total.
What's Next?
Penn State hosts Juniata on Tuesday, Jan. 26 in its second home match of the season at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The Lions travel to Lewis (Jan. 29) and Loyola-Chicago (Jan. 30) before starting a six-match home stand on Friday, Feb. 5 vs. Rutgers-Newark.