UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The Penn State men's volleyball team plays its first two home EIVA conference matches of the season when it welcomes Harvard and Sacred Heart to Rec Hall this weekend, Feb. 15-16. Both matches will be played in the South Gym.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Harvard (1-6, 1-0 EIVA) vs. Penn State (4-6, 1-0 EIVA)
Date: Friday, February 15
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Rec Hall South Gym
Stats: Live Statistics
Sacred Heart (1-5, 0-1 EIVA) vs. Penn State
Date: Saturday, February 16
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Rec Hall South Gym
Stats: Live Statistics
PARKING ADVISORY
Fans are strongly encouraged to park in the Red A Lot located straight across North Atherton St. from Rec Hall for both volleyball matches this weekend. Fans can enter the Rec Hall using the Hepper Fitness Center entrance and proceed up the stairs to the South Gym.
With additional foot traffic in Rec Hall for Penn State wrestling on Friday and women's gymnastics on Saturday, access to the South Gym is quickest and easiest from the Red A Lot for volleyball fans.
Please use the Penn State Interactive Parking Map for additional information.
STARTING OUT UNBEATEN
The Nittany Lions are a perfect 18-0 in EIVA home openers at Rec Hall since the beginning of the rally scoring era in 2001. Over that span, the Nittany Lions have dropped just seven sets and never allowed opponents to win more than one set in a match. Penn State's overall set margin over the span is 54-7.
ALL-TIME LEDGER
Penn State has had great success in the all-time matchups against both Harvard and Sacred Heart. The Nittany Lions are 16-3 against the Crimson in program history, including a perfect 11-0 at home. Harvard did win the last two matchups against Penn State in the 2018.
The Nittany Lions have won 14 of 16 matches against the Pioneers dating back to both teams' first match against each other in 2004. Penn State holds an 8-1 record at Rec Hall against Sacred Heart and swept the season series a year ago.
EIVA STANDOUTS
The Nittany Lions have two players ranked among the EIVA's best in hitting percentage and digs. Junior middle blocker Jason Donorovich has the highest hitting percentage in the conference at .395 while also leading the Nittany Lions with 101.0 points and 34 total blocks.
Redshirt freshman libero Will Bantle ranks second in the EIVA in total digs with 66, trailing only St. Francis's Gabe Woffindin (71). Bantle has started each of his first ten career matches this season as the primary libero for the Nittany Lions.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Harvard enters the weekend with its lone victory of the season being a conference win Thursday, Jan. 24 at Sacred Heart. The Crimson dropped back-to-back matches at home last weekend to ranked foes Ball State and Purdue Fort Wayne. They are led in scoring by two different outside hitters: junior Erik Johnsson and sophomore Griffin Schmit each have 70.5 points this season.
Sacred Heart has lost three-straight matches, including matches to Harvard and aforementioned ranked opponents Purdue Fort Wayne and Ball State. The Pioneers top standout statistically speaking has been graduate opposite hitter Emerson Waumans, who leads the team in kills (75), attacks (178), and points (88.5).
For more information on Penn State men's volleyball, follow the Nittany Lions on Twitter @PennStateMVBALL and Instagram @pennstatemvball and "like" the Penn State men's volleyball page on Facebook.
