UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's volleyball team is set to begin its 2019 season with its first test being a road match against eight-ranked Ohio State Saturday evening at St. John Arena in Columbus.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
(RV) Penn State vs. #8 Ohio State
Date and Time: January 5, 2019 | 7 p.m.
Place: Columbus, Ohio | St. John Arena
Live Stats: Statistics
Watch: BTN2Go
Game Notes: Penn State Game Notes
THE MATCHUP
The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes renew their rivalry in 2019 with the first of two matchups against each other this season. The other will be played at Rec Hall March 19.
Penn State leads the all-time series 72-35-1 against Ohio State dating back to 1978. This is the sixth time the Nittany Lions will begin a season against the Buckeyes, with PSU taking four of those five previous matchups. The last time Penn State began the season against Ohio State was in Columbus Jan. 14, 2012 when the Nittany Lions earned a 3-0 sweep.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State is coming off a 25-6 season in 2018 which included its third-straight MIVA title and a three-peat national championship run that fell short in the NCAA Semifinals.
The Buckeyes return three key players from a season ago that were named to the All-MIVA preseason team. Redshirt senior middle blocker Blake Leeson hit the century mark with 100 blocks in 2018 while hitting .494 with 190 kills.
Senior setter Sanil Thomas led the NCAA with 11.28 assists per set and was second in the nation with 1,309 assists. Redshirt sophomore opposite Jake Hanes was second on the Buckeyes with 400 kills in 109 sets played last season.
PRESEASON POLLS
Penn State was selected to finish second by EIVA coaches in the 2019 EIVA preseason coaches' poll released back in December. The Nittany Lions tied George Mason for the most first-place votes (3) and finished with 53 points, just three behind top point-getter Princeton.
Ohio State was also involved in a tight preseason poll in the MIVA, finishing third behind Lewis and Loyola-Chicago with 53 points. The Buckeyes's two first-place votes trailed only Lewis' four.
In the national AVCA preseason poll, the Buckeyes received a number eight ranking while Penn State finished just outside the top 15 with 18 votes received.
QUARTER CENTURY AT THE HELM
Mark Pavlik enters his 25th season as head coach of the Penn State program with an overall record of 558-184. His 558 career wins ranks second all-time in NCAA DI-II men's volleyball history, trailing only Ohio State's Pete Hanson (702 wins, 34 seasons).
FAMILIAR FACES
2018 All-EIVA First Team performers Calvin Mende and Matthew McLaren are back for the Nittany Lions in 2019. The redshirt senior McLaren led PSU with 256 kills as the only Nittany Lion to play in all 26 matches. Mende, now a redshirt junior, finished first on the team with 3.33 kills per set and 3.76 points per set while trailing only McLaren in kills (233).
Redshirt junior setter Luke Braswell also returns to the court for Penn State in 2019. He ranked fourth among all active NCAA players with 10.04 assists per set at the end of 2018. Redshirt junior Jason Donorovich also returns after starting the final 10 games of last season. Redshirt senior Lee Smith is also poised to add to the Nittany Lions depth on the outside this year.
WHO ARE THE NEW GUYS?
The Nittany Lions will feature some new talent on the court this Spring, beginning with a few players ready to see their first game action after redshirt seasons. Redshirt junior Henrik Falck Lauten joins the outside hitters' corps while redshirt freshman Will Bantle is set to take over the libero position.
True freshmen Cole Bogner (S), Brett Wildman (OH), Sam Marsh (MB), Canyon Tuman (MB), and Cal Fisher (OH/OPP) could also make immediate impacts on the court this season.
NEXT UP
Penn State opens its 2019 home schedule at Rec Hall with a Saturday matchup against North Greenville Jan. 12. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
