May 7, 2015
By Tyler Feldman, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The fifth-seed Nittany Lions (21-9) face the top-seeded Lewis Flyers (26-3) in the NCAA semifinals on Thursday. First serve is set for 11 p.m. ET inside historic Maples Pavilion.
Having already lost in four sets twice during the regular season against Lewis, Penn State comes into its 17th consecutive NCAA national semifinal match on Thursday with a chip on its shoulder.
"We're looking forward to the battle with the Flyers," head coach Mark Pavlik said. "We've seen them twice this year.... It's a lot of fun to play those guys. They play big boy volleyball. It's a very physical game, not only at the net but from behind the service line. It's men's volleyball at its best."
The Blue and White have battled adversity all season long. From starting 4-9 to having to deal with a number of student-athlete setbacks due to injury, resiliency is the word to describe this year's team.
"The first two times we played them, I don't think that we were as physical as we could or should have been," senior outside hitter Aaron Russell said. "I think we also just didn't really compete as hard.... We've come a long way since then."
In order to top Lewis for the first time this season, the physicality that Russell talked about above will have to be in full force from start to finish.
"If we can serve well...if we can knock them off the net and if we can really force them to not be as physical as they can be, I think that's where we can really expect us to get some separation from them in the game," Pavlik said.
Scouting No. 1 Lewis
After finishing 15-1 in conference play, Lewis ended the regular season as MIVA champions. However, the Flyers completed the season by falling to No. 3 Loyola (25-2) in the MIVA Championship game. Nonetheless, the committee rewarded Lewis with the top ranking for this year's NCAA tournament.
Having lost just three matches all season long, the Flyers have a host of quality wins. Strong wins include: UC Irvine, Stanford, Penn State (twice), Ohio State, IPFW (twice), and Ball State (twice). Lewis's three losses have all come at the hands of ranked foes in BYU, Ohio State and Loyola.
Offensively, a three-headed monster leads the Flyers. Redshirt senior outside hitter Geoff Powell, senior outside hitter Greg Petty, and senior opposite Eric Fitterer are incredibly physical pin hitters that have challenged opponents all season long. Each of the three are averaging more than 2.75 kills per set and hitting higher than .296.
All three players detailed above are AVCA All-Americans. Together, the Flyers combined for five this year, however. The other two? Senior libero Lucas Yanez who is averaging 2.02 digs this season and junior middle blocker Bobby Walsh who is averaging 1.53 blocks per set this year.
"Bobby [Walsh] is an up-and-coming middle who is really doing the right things and playing the right way," Pavlik said. "They use him so well...Walsh is in the middle saying `hey, don't forget about me.'"
What's at Stake?
The winner will advance to the 2015 NCAA title match on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET and will play the victor of No. 2 UC Irvine and No. 3 Loyola.