March 9, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The ninth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team travels to UC Irvine on Wednesday, March 10 for a 7 p.m. (PT) matchup with the No. 11 Anteaters. Live stats will be available via a link at GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State Preview
The Nittany Lions are on the road this week with three matches in four days. Penn State takes on UC Irvine on Wednesday, March 10 in Irvine, Calif. before challenging BYU on Friday, March 12 and Long Beach State on Saturday, March 13.
The Penn State men's volleyball team improved to 13-2 overall this season and 6-0 in EIVA play with a 3-0 (30-24, 30-22, 30-16) victory against George Mason on March 6. The Nittany Lions attacked at a .432 clip averaging 16.00 kills per set, 14.67 assists per set, 2.67 aces per set, 11.33 digs per set and 3.00 blocks per set. Redshirt sophomore Joe Sunder led the Lions with 4.67 kps, while redshirt sophomore setter Edgardo Goas dished out 12.00 assists per set. Junior libero Dennis Del Valle had a team-best 4.67 dps and senior Max Lipsitz had 2.33 bps.
Penn State vs. UC Irvine
The Nittany Lions are 3-4 all-time against the Anteaters dating back to 1990. The two teams last met in 2007 in the NCAA National Semifinals. UC Irvine won the first meeting on Feb. 26, 1990, 3-0. Between 2004 and 2006, PSU defeated UC Irvine three times, including in the National Semifinals in 2006. In the last meeting between the squads, the Anteaters defeated the Nittany Lions, 3-1 (30-25, 30-22, 26-30, 30-23).
Notes on the Anteaters
UC Irvine is 10-10 overall this season, with a 6-9 record in MPSF play. The Anteaters have won three of their last four matches, including 3-1 victories against No. 8 UCLA and No. 15 Lewis. Sophomore opposite Carson Clark leads UC Irvine with 5.07 kills per set, while junior outside hitter Jordan DuFault is averaging a team-best 2.07 digs per set. Junior middle blocker Kevin Wynne leads the Anteaters with 73 blocks (1.01 blocks per set) and junior setter Anthony Spittle is averaging 10.16 assists per set.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions remain in California to compete in the Long Beach State Active Ankle Tournament. Penn State takes on BYU on Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m. before facing LBSU on Saturday at 7 p.m. Times are local to site.
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.