Feb. 16, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fifth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (8-1, 2-0 EIVA) continues conference play on Feb. 17-18 at Harvard and Sacred Heart. The Nittany Lions take on Harvard on Friday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Sacred Heart on Saturday for an 8 p.m. match with the Pioneers.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 8-1 overall this season and 2-0 in EIVA play with 3-0 sweeps of Rutgers-Newark and NJIT on Feb. 10-11.
Junior Tom Comfort (Orchard Park, N.Y.) led the team with 4.00 kills per set after coming off the bench in both matches to play in four total sets. Sophomore Peter Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) was second on the team with 3.50 kills per set, while redshirt senior Joe Sunder had 3.33. Redshirt senior Edgardo Goas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) averaged 10.50 assists per set and redshirt freshman Nick Goodell (Ambridge, Pa.) had 1.00 aces per set. Redshirt freshman Connor Curry (Newport Beach, Calif.) was a leader defensively with 2.17 digs per set, while freshman Aaron Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) and juniors Ian Hendries (Cardiff, Calif.) and Nick Turko (Lewisberry, Pa.) had 0.75 blocks per set.
For the weekend, Penn State hit .481 and averaged 12.83 kills per set, 12.00 assists per set, 1.83 aces per set, 6.83 digs per set and 1.92 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Harvard
The Nittany Lions are 3-0 all-times versus the Crimson. The squads first met in 2000 in the EIVA Championship. Penn State won the match, 3-0. The teams haven't met since 2009 when Penn State swept Harvard on Feb. 13.
Last three meetings:
4/22/00 H W, 3-0 (15-5, 15-6, 15-2)
4/23/05 H W, 3-0 (30-17, 30-23, 30-15)
2/13/09 H W, 3-0 (30-13, 30-13, 30-20)
Scouting the Crimson
Harvard is 6-1 overall with a 1-1 record in EIVA play. The Crimson opened the season winning five straight matches, before suffering a 3-0 setback to EIVA foe George Mason on Feb. 10. Harvard rebounded with a 3-0 victory against Princeton on Feb. 11. Following their visit to Rec Hall, the Crimson will travel to nearby Saint Francis on Feb. 18.
Penn State vs. Sacred Heart
Penn State owns a 2-0 record against the Pioneers. The squads have not met since 2004 when Penn State defeated Sacred Heart, 3-0, during the regular season, and again in the EIVA Championship held at Rec Hall.
Last two meetings:
3/19/04 H W, 3-0 (30-24, 30-23, 30-23)
4/24/04 H W, 3-0 (30-23, 30-23, 30-18)
Scouting the Pioneers
Sacred Heart is 4-7 overall with a 1-2 record in league play. Despite opening the season with three straight losses on the road, the Pioneers earned a 3-1 win vs. Medaille and a 3-0 sweep against Baruch on Jan. 28. Since then Sacred Heart has won two of their six matches, sweeping Ramapo on Feb. 4 and defeating George Mason, 3-2, on Feb. 11. SHU takes on Saint Francis on Feb. 17 before arriving at Penn State.
What's Next?
Penn State returns homes on Feb. 24 and 25 to host EIVA foes Princeton and George Mason. The Nittany Lions take on the Tigers on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. and the Patriots on Feb. 25 at 5 p.m.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State men's volleyball 2012 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets.
The Penn State men's volleyball team is on Twitter. Follow @PSUVolleyball to get the inside scoop.