Feb. 23, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fifth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (10-1, 4-0 EIVA) are back in action at home this weekend against conference foes Princeton and George Mason. The Nittany Lions face the Tigers on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. before taking on the Patriots on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m.
Following Penn State's match, the Army Wounded Warrior sitting volleyball team will play two exhibition matches. The first is scheduled against PSU Ability athletics and the second pits Army against members of the Penn State women's volleyball team. Admission is free to both men's volleyball matches and the exhibition.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 10-1 overall this season and 4-0 in EIVA play with 3-0 sweeps of Harvard and Sacred Heart on Feb. 17-18.
Redshirt freshman Nick Goodell (Ambridge, Pa.) led the team with 4.60 kills per set, while junior Tom Comfort (Orchard Park, N.Y.) averaged 2.67 and redshirt senior Joe Sunder (Greensburg, Pa.) had 2.33. Redshirt senior Edgardo Goas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) averaged 11.33 assists per set and redshirt freshman Connor Curry (Newport Beach, Calif ) had 3.67 digs per set. Freshman Aaron Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) was a wall at the net with team-best 1.00 blocks per set.
For the weekend, Penn State hit .404 and averaged 13.50 kills per set, 12.33 assists per set, 1.50 aces per set, 11.33 digs per set and 1.75 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Princeton
The Nittany Lions are 43-2 all-time against the Tigers. Princeton's last win against Penn State was on April 16, 1998 in the EIVA Championship. The Tigers won, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 16-14).
Scouting the Tigers
Princeton is 3-3 overall in 2012 and 2-1 in EIVA action. The Tigers have won three of their last four matches, including defeated Rutgers-Newark (3-2), Sacred Heart (3-0) and UC San Diego (3-2). Princeton's three losses this year are to Cal-Baptist (3-1), LBSU (3-0) and Harvard (3-0.
Penn State vs. George Mason
Penn State owns a 87-14 record against the Patriots. The squads met twice in 2011 with Penn State winning both matches, 3-0. Prior to that, the squads last met on April 17, 2010 with Penn State defeating the Patriots, 3-1.
Scouting the Patriots
George Mason is 4-8 overall this season with a 1-1 record in league play. Three of the Patriots' wins this season have come in five set matches. GMU has defeated IPFW twice, Ball State and Harvard. The Patriots have lost their last three matches, including vs. Sacred Heart, Loyola and Lewis. George Mason faces St. Francis on
What's Next?
Penn State remains at home to host Ohio State on Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions embark on a seven-match road trip beginning with a trip to Pepperdine and USC on March 8-9.
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.
Penn State men's volleyball is on Twitter. Follow @PSUVolleyball to get the inside scoop.