UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The Penn State men's volleyball team gets back on the court this weekend with a pair of nonconference matchups on the road in Illinois. The Nittany Lions will face #10 Lewis Friday evening before squaring off with #5 Loyola Chicago Saturday afternoon.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Penn State at #10 Lewis
Date: Friday, February 1
Time: 5 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. ET
Place: Romeoville, Illinois
Watch: GLVC NETWORK
Statistics: LIVE STATS
Penn State at #5 Loyola Chicago
Date: Saturday, February 2
Time: 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET
Place: Chicago, Illinois
Watch: ESPN 3
Statistics: LIVE STATS
THREE-GAME BURST
The Nittany Lions have won their last three matches by a combined set score of 9-1 and have also won eight-straight sets dating back to 1/21 vs. Saint Francis. Listed below are some team stat comparisons for the NIttany Lions versus their opponents in the last three matches:
- Total Kills: PSU 124, Opposition 115
- Team Hitting %: PSU .263, Opposition .177
- Total Blocks: PSU 25.0, Opposition 19.0
- Service Aces: PSU 14, Opposition 7
- Service Errors: PSU 48, Opposition 52
- Total Assists: PSU 118, Opposition 108
BIG MAN IN THE MIDDLE
- Jason Donorovich was named EIVA Defensive player of the week 1/28 after picking up 15 blocks (5 solo) in three games the week prior. He had a nine-block game 1/26 vs. Lindenwood.
- Donorovich put together back-to-back games with 12 kills each, both career highs, 1/18 vs #4 BYU and 1/21 at SFU.
- He is also leading the EIVA with a .519 hitting percentage while ranking 14th in the conference in kills (36).
- He has also been noticeable on the service line and on defense, leading the Nittany Lions in service aces (8) and total blocks (13).
A FISHER-MAN'S TALE
- Cal Fisher posted 10 kills in back-to-back matches 1/18 vs. BYU and 1/21 at SFU. He started his first career match at St. Francis.
- Over his first three career starts, Fisher has 30 kills, including a career-high 12 Jan. 26 vs. Lindenwood.
- Fisher filled the stat sheet aginst BYU with a .375 hitting percentage (10-1-24), 9 digs, and five block assists.
- Fisher has also had success at the service line with eight aces over the last five games.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Lewis ranks tenth in the latest AVCA Coaches poll with a 6-3 overall record. The Flyers went 1-1 on their two-game road trip to California last weekend. Both matches went to five sets, with Lewis dropping a 3-2 decision to UC Santa Barbara before taking down CSUN 3-2 the next day.
Flyers Player to Watch:
6-11 R-So. MB Tyler Mitchem
Stats: 83 kills, .511 hitting %, 36 blocks
Notes: Leads team in kills, hitting percentage, and total blocks (tied)
Loyola Chicago is also featured in this week's AVCA Coaches poll at No. 5 with a 6-2 overall record. The Ramblers also were in California last weekend and faced off with the same opponents that Lewis did. Loyola Chicago swept CSUN 3-0 on Friday, Jan. 25 before falling in four sets, 3-1, the next day to UC Santa Barbara, snapping a six-game win streak.
Ramblers Player to Watch:
6-3 So. S Garrett Zolg
Stats: 316 assists, 1.66 digs/s, 10 digs
Notes: Leads nation in assists per set at 10.90
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions head across the country to Long Beach, California to take on defending national champion and top-ranked Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara February 8-9.