Feb. 2, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fifth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (4-1) opens its home slate this weekend at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions host Mount Olive at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 before welcoming Cal-Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Ohio State will also be in town playing at 5 p.m. both days.
Tickets are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY. They are $8 for adults and $5 for youth and groups. Group tickets can be purchased in advance for a discounted rate of $4.
Fans are encouraged to participate in an EIVA Rallies silent auction, which will be located on the west mezzanine area beginning at 4 p.m. Friday. Bids will be accepted through the second match Friday evening. All proceeds benefit the Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute. Items include autographed volleyballs, an autographed women's basketball, autographed posters from wrestling and men's basketball and a Penn State men's volleyball jersey.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 4-1 overall this season after a 2-0 showing at the Ken and Dave Dunlap Invitational hosted by Ohio State on Jan. 27-28. Penn State defeated both then No. 4 Stanford and No. 12 Pacific by scores of 3-1.
Three Nittany Lions registered 3.50 kills per set or better with redshirt freshman Nick Goodell (Ambridge, Pa.) leading the way with 3.86. Sophomore Peter Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) had 3.83 kills per set, while redshirt senior Joe Sunder (Greensburg, Pa.) had 3.50 kills per set. Redshirt senior setter Edgardo Goas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) paced the offense with 13.50 assists per set, while Sunder was strong defensively with 1.88 digs per set. Freshman Aaron Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) led the team in blocking with 1.25 blocks per set.
For the weekend, Penn State hit .377 and averaged 14.75 kills per set, 14.12 assists per set, 1.50 aces per set, 8.12 digs per set and 2.31 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Mount Olive
Penn State is 4-0 all-time against the Trojans dating back to 2005. The teams last met in 2011 with the Nittany Lions earning a 3-0 win on Feb. 18. The Nittany Lions and Trojans also met in 2008 and 2009 with PSU winning 3-0 both times.
Scouting the Trojans
Mount Olive owns a 2-4 overall record this season and is 1-0 in Conference Carolinas. The Trojans have lost three of their last four matches, including back-to-back setbacks to IPFW on Jan. 27-28. The Trojans will take on Saint Francis on Thursday, Feb. 2 before arriving in State College.
Penn State vs. Cal-Baptist
This is the third meeting between Penn State and Cal-Baptist. The teams are tied in the series, 1-1. The squads first met at the Active Ankle Challenge hosted by LBSU in 2007 with the Lancers earning the win, 3-0. The Lancers and Lions met again in 2008 at the same tournament with Penn State securing the 3-0 triumph.
Scouting the Lancers
Cal-Baptist is 2-5 so far in 2012 and have met four nationally-ranked opponents, including UC Irvine, USC, UCSB and LBSU. The Lancers two victories came against Grand Canyon, 3-1, and Princeton, 3-1. In addition, Cal-Baptist has played two exhibition matches suffering a 3-2 loss to Alberta on Jan. 2 and earning a 3-0 win against Manitoba on Jan. 7.
What's Next?
Penn State remains at home the weekend of Feb. 10. The Nittany Lions host Rutgers-Newark on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. followed by NJIT on Feb. 11, also at 7 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.