March 7, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The sixth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (13-1) travels to California for matches with two nationally-ranked opponents. The Nittany Lions take on No. 10 Pepperdine on March 8 and No. 4 USC on March 9. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 13-1 overall this season after defeating No. 9 Ohio State, 3-2.
Redshirt freshman Nick Goodell (Ambridge, Pa.) led the team with 4.00 kills per set, while redshirt senior Joe Sunder (Greensburg, Pa.) averaged 3.00 and sophomore Peter Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) averaged 2.20. Redshirt senior Edgardo Goas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) led the offense with 10.80 assists per set, and junior Nick Turko (Lewisberry, Pa.) led the team with 1.00 aces per set. Sunder led the team with 2.60 digs per set and freshman Connor Curry (Newport Beach, Calif.) had 2.00 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 .389 and averaged 13.83 kills per set, 12.33 assists per set, 2.00 aces per set, 7.50 digs per set and 2.33 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Pepperdine
Penn State is 4-15 all-time vs. the Waves. The Nittany Lions last met Pepperdine in the 2008 NCAA Championship match on May 3. The nittany Lions won the match, 3-1 (27-30, 33-31, 30-25, 30-23) for the program's second NCAA title.
Last three meetings:
5/3/08, N - W, 3-1 (27-30, 33-31, 30-25, 30-23)
3/7/00, A- L, 3-0 (4-15, 4-15, 13-15)
1/16/99, N - L, 3-0 (10-15, 10-15, 5-15)
Scouting the Waves
Pepperdine is 8-8 so far this season and 6-7 in the MPSF. Despite opening the season 5-1, the Waves have won only three of their last 10 matches. Their most recent win came at Pacific on Feb. 25, 3-1. The Waves suffered back to back losses at BYU on March 2-3.
Penn State vs. USC
The Nittany Lions own a 6-17 record against the Trojans. The teams most recently met on Jan. 7, 2010 at the Hawaii Outrigger Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Trojans won, 3-0 (30-28, 30-24, 30-24).
Last three meetings:
1/7/2010, N - L, 3-0 (30-28, 30-24, 30-24)
5/7/09, N - L, 3-1 (30-27, 26-30, 26-30, 24-30)
3/8/06, A - L, 3-0 (30-26, 30-22, 30-27)
Scouting the Trojans
The Trojans are 11-4 overall this season with a 9-4 record in MPSF action. USC has won six straight matches, including two wins against Hawaii and victories vs. Stanford, Pacific, Hope International and Pepperdine.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions embark on a seven-match road trip beginning with the trip to Pepperdine and USC on March 8-9. Penn State returns to the east coast for a March 17 meeting with Saint Francis before traveling to NJIT and Rutgers-Newark on March 23-24.
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.