Jan. 28, 2010
Complete release in pdf format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fifth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team heads to Illinois this weekend for matchups with Lewis and Loyola-Chicago. The Nittany Lions meet the Flyers n Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. CT and the Ramblers on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. CT.
Live stats will be available for both matches is available via a link at GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State Preview
The Nittany Lions played in Rec Hall for just the second time this season on Tuesday, Jan. 26 when they took on the Eagles of Juniata. Penn State swept JC with set scores of 30-19, 30-27 and 30-18.
Penn State finished the match with a .349 attack percentage. The Lions averaged 15.67 kills per set, 15.00 assists per set, 2.33 aces per set, 8.67 digs per set and 3.67 blocks per set. Redshirt sophomore Joe Sunder led the team with 3.67 kps, while both senior Max Lipsitz and senior Will Price were second on the team with 3.33 kps. Redshirt sophomore Edgardo Goas paced the PSU offense with 13.33 aps and junior libero Dennis Del Valle had a team-best 3.33 dps. Three Nittany Lions, Lipsitz, Goas and freshman Ian Hendries, tied for first on the team with 1.67 bps.
Penn State vs. Lewis
The Nittany Lions are 14-7 all-time against the Flyers in a series dating back to 1994. Penn State has won the last five meetings between the two teams, defeating Lewis in 2009 on Feb. 27 in four set (30-21, 30-23, 25-30, 30-22). Lewis' last win against PSU came on Jan. 17, 2004. The Flyers won three sets to two, 29-31, 30-19, 30-26, 35-37, 11-15.
Notes on Lewis
The Flyers head into this weekend with a perfect 4-0 record have swept three of their four opponents. Lewis opened the season on Jan. 15 against the Milwaukee School of Engineering before heading to Newark, N.J. for the Golden Dome Classic. Lewis defeated both Rutgers-Newark (3-2) and NJIT (3-0) for the title. The Flyers were last in action on Jan. 26 when they posted a 3-0 victory against Carthage.
Penn State vs. Loyola-Chicago
The Nittany Lions first met the Ramblers in 1996 and lead the series 7-6. Penn State face Loyola twice in 2009. Despite suffering a five set setback to LC on Feb. 20, the Nittany Lions defeated the Ramblers soundly on March 21, 3-0 (30-21, 30-23, 30-24).
Notes on Loyola-Chicago
The Ramblers, like Lewis, also are 4-0 to start the season with a 2-0 record in MIVA play. Loyola-Chicago defeated Carthage, Ball State and MSOE three sets to none, with a 3-1 victory against IPFW on Jan. 22.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions begin a six-match home stand on Friday, Feb. 5 against Rutgers-Newark at 7 p.m. before taking on Springfield on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. Penn State hosts Laval on Feb. 12-13 and then Ball State and IPFW the weekend of Feb. 19.