March 29, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The eighth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (16-3, 9-0 EIVA) concludes its seven-match road trip this weekend with visits to Princeton and George Mason. The Nittany Lions face the Tigers on Friday, March 30 before meeting the Patriots on Saturday, March 31. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. starts.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 16-3 overall and remain undefeated in EIVA action at 9-0 after defeating NJIT and Rutgers-Newark on the road on March 23-24.
Redshirt senior Joe Sunder (Greensburg, Pa.) led Penn State with 4.29 kills per set, while junior Tom Comfort (Orchard Park, N.Y.) posted 3.67 kills per set. Redshirt senior Edgardo Goas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) dished out 10.43 assists per set, while junior Nick Turko (Lewisberry, Pa.) had a team-best 1.00 aces per set. Redshirt freshman Connor Curry (Newport Beach, Calif.) registered 2.57 digs per set and Sunder led the team in blocks with 0.71 blocks per set.
For the weekend Penn State hit .339 and averaged 13.00 kills per set, 12.00 assists per set, 1.57 aces per set, 9.00 digs per set and 2.36 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Princeton
The Nittany Lions are 44-2 all-time against the Tigers dating back to 1977. The teams met previously this season in Rec Hall with Penn State earning a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-18) win. Of the EIVA opponents Penn State has played this season, Princeton recorded the highest hitting percentage of any other league team against the Nittany Lions at .234.
Last three meetings:
2/24/12, H - W, 25-18, 25-15, 25-18
3/25/11, A - W, 25-21, 25-16, 25-16
2/12/11, H - W, 25-17, 25-16, 25-23
Scouting the Tigers
Princeton is currently sitting in fifth place in the EIVA with a 5-5 league record and a 7-7 overall record. After a three-match winning streak from Feb. 25-March 2, the Tigers went on to lose their next three matches before rebounding with a 3-2 victory against Juniata on March 24.
Penn State vs. George Mason
The Nittany Lions own an 88-14 series record with the Patriots dating back to 1977. Penn State and George Mason met earlier this season on Feb. 25 where the Nittany Lions walked away with a 3-0 sweep at home in Rec Hall.
Last three meetings:
2/25/12, H - W, 25-13, 25-22, 25-20
4/12/11, H - W, 28-26, 26-20, 25-23
2/26/11, A - W, 25-19, 25-19, 25-20
Scouting the Patriots
George Mason is 7-13 overall and 3-4 in the EIVA and currently in sixth place. They have won two of their last five matches, sweeping Princeton and Sacred Heart on March 3 and March 10, respectively. Most recently the Patriots made a trip to California where they lost matches with USC and Pepperdine in three sets each. The Patriots will face Saint Francis on Friday, March 30 before taking on Penn State.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions return home after a seven-match road trip on April 6-7 when they host EIVA foes Sacred Heart and Harvard. Penn State faces SHU on Friday, April 6 at 7 p.m. followed by Harvard on Saturday, April 7 at 2 p.m. Both matches are at Rec Hall.
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.