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The sixth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team is back at home on Friday, March 26 when it hosts EIVA foe Princeton. Action is set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Main Gym of Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions then travel to Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, March 27 to begin a stretch of six straight road matches. First serve is at 7 p.m.
Four seniors will be honored prior to Penn State's match with Princeton. Max Lipsitz, Will Price, Jason Ambrose and team manager Chris Birch have all been integral members of the men's volleyball program. During their careers, Penn State has an overall record of 96-13, an 88 percent winning percentage. Their record in EIVA play is even more impressive at 43-1 (97.7 percent).
Penn State Preview
The Nittany Lions return home for their final home match of the regular season when they host Princeton on Friday, March 26. A Penn State win guarantees the Nittany Lions a share of first place in the EIVA Tait Division. Following Friday's match, the Lions travel to Rutgers-Newark for a 7 p.m. match on Saturday, March 27.
The Penn State men's volleyball team is now 17-4 overall with a 8-0 record in EIVA play. On Tuesday, March 23 the Lions traveled to nearby Juniata where they secured a 3-0 sweep of the Eagles. The Nittany Lions averaged 17.00 kills per set, 16.00 assists per set, 2.00 aces per set, 14.67 digs per set and 2.50 blocks per set. Redshirt sophomore Joe Sunder led PSU with 3.00 kps, while setter Edgardo Goas dished out 14.33 aps. Goas, senior Will Price, sophomore Ryan Wolf and freshman Tom Comfort each recorded 2.67 dps. Senior Max Lipsitz led the Lions at the net with 1.00 bps.
Penn State vs. Princeton
The Nittany Lions are 39-2 all-time against the Tigers after defeating Princeton on February 26 of this year, 3-0. Princeton's last win against Penn State was in the 1998 EIVA Tournament. The Tigers swept the Lions with set scores of 15-7, 15-13, 16-14.
Notes on the Tigers
Princeton is 7-5 overall with a 3-2 record in EIVA play to sit at second in the Tait division standings. The Tigers have won four of their last five matches with wins against Juniata, Springfield, Saint Francis and Rutgers-Newark. Princeton's match with the Lions will be their first since March 12. Junior Vincent Tuminelli leads the Tigers with 3.93 kps and sophomore Scott Liljestrom has been handling the setting duties averaging 13.38 aps. Leading the team in digs is senior Carl Hamming with 1.73 dps and senior Jeff McCown is the squad's leading block with 1.17 bps.
Penn State vs. Rutgers-Newark
The Nittany Lions are 79-23 all-time against Rutgers-Newark. The two squads met for the first time since 2007 earlier this season on Feb. 5. Penn State came out on top in the match 3-0 at home in South Gym.
Notes on the Scarlet Raiders
Rutgers-Newark currently leads the EIVA Hay Division with an 8-10 overall record and a 6-0 record in league play. The Scarlet Raiders have won seven of their last eight matches, Most recently sweeping Sacred Heart on March 24. Marcin Midura leads Rutgers-Newark with 3.50 kps, while Jeff Zornig has been the primary setter with 10.22 aps. Dane Mulligan has a team-best 1.64 dps and Jon Keller is averaging 1.37 bps.
What's Next?
Penn State closed out the regular season with six straight road matches beginning on Saturday, March 27 at Rutgers-Newark. The Nittany Lions spend the weekend of April 1 facing MIVA foes IPFW and Ball State before making a second trip to California on April 9-10 to challenge UC Santa Barbara and Cal State-Northridge.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State men's volleyball 2010 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets at Hershey.