April 8, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 10th-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (20-5, 10-0 EIVA) hosts No. 9 Ohio State (18-5, 11-1 MIVA) on Sunday, April 10 at 5 p.m. in Rec Hall. The match will air live on the Big Ten Network. Prior to the start of the match, seniors Dennis Del Valle (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) and Alan Mars (Rochester, N.Y.) will be honored for their contributions to the men's volleyball program.
Penn State Preview
The 10th-ranked Nittany Lions own a 20-5 record and finished the EIVA regular season undefeated at 10-0. The win clinched Penn State's 27th EIVA/ECVL title since 1976. This was the 15th time in program history the Nittany Lions finished the EIVA regular season undefeated and the 12th time under head coach Mark Pavlik.
The Nittany Lions swept the Patriots at Rec Hall with set scores of 28-26, 25-21 and 25-20. Redshirt junior Joe Sunder (Greensburg, Pa.) led the Nittany Lions with 5.00 kills per set and redshirt junior setter Edgardo Goas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) paced the offense with 11.00 assists per set. Freshman Jace Olsen (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) averaged 1.00 ace per set and Del Valle had a team-high 3.67 digs per set. Goas was a wall at the net with 1.67 blocks per set. Penn State averaged 13.33 kills, 11.67 assists, 2.67 aces, 9.33 digs and 2.67 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Ohio State
The Nittany Lions are 64-24-1 all-time against the Buckeyes. Penn State and Ohio State met earlier this season on Feb. 9 in Ohio State's St. John Arena. The then sixth-ranked Buckeyes came away with a 3-0 victory. Ohio State hosts Princeton in back-to-back matches on April 8-9 before traveling to Penn State.
Scouting the Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are ranked ninth in the most recent AVCA poll and own an 18-5 record. Despite opening the season with two losses to Pepperdine, the Buckeyes embarked on a 17-match winning streak. UC San Diego cut the streak short, defeating Ohio State, 3-1, on March 24. Since then the Buckeyes have gone 1-2.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions close out the regular season on the road with matches at IPFW and Ball State on April 15-16. Penn State has earned a bye in the quarterfinals of the EIVA tournament after finishing the season with an unblemished conference record. Penn State will host the EIVA Semifinals and Championship on April 28 and 30 at Rec Hall.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State men's volleyball 2011 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets at Hershey.