UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The Penn State men's volleyball team continues its EIVA conference slate with a pair of road matches this weekend. The Nittany Lions will take on #13 George Mason Friday evening before heading to Charleston (W.Va.) Sunday afternoon.
FOLOW THE ACTION
Penn State (6-6, 3-0 EIVA) vs. #13 George Mason (9-3, 3-1 EIVA)
Date: Friday, January 22
Place: Fairfax, Virginia
Time: 7 p.m.
Watch: GEORGE MASON ALL ACCESS ($)
Statistics: LIVE STATS
Penn State vs. Charleston (4-9, 0-4)
Date: Sunday, January 24
Place: Charleston, West Virginia
Time: 2 p.m.
Watch: TEAM1SPORTS
Statistics: LIVE STATS
OPENING SERVE
Penn State swept both of its EIVA matches at Rec Hall's South Gym last weekend over Harvard and Sacred Heart. The Nittany Lions had 47 kills to the Crimson's 25 in match one on Friday. In the second match versus the Pioneers, Penn State held a big edge at the net in blocks (8-2) and at the service line with aces (8-3).
George Mason enters the weekend 3-1 in conference play after a 1-1 showing last weekend. The Patriots dropped NJIT in straight sets before being handed their first EIVA loss to Princeton, 3-1. The Patriots are the lone EIVA team to be ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll at any point this season and are currently #13. Junior Hayden Wagner is one of the country's elite right-side hitters and leads the EIVA in kills with 193.
Charleston is winless in the EIVA at 0-4 but did win its lone game last weekend over Queens University of Charlotte in straight sets. Sophomore outside Maarten Bartels leads the Golden Eagles with 101 kills.
ALL-TIME LEDGER
Penn State has historically played well against both of its opponents this weekend all time. The Nittany Lions are 106-15 against the Patriots dating back to the first match in 1977. Penn State has won eight of the last ten matches against George Mason, though both teams split their season series in 2018.
Penn State is perfect in its six matches against Charleston dating back to Charleston's first season playing the Nittany Lions in 2016. Not only have the Nittany Lions gone 6-0 against the Golden Eagles, but they have not dropped a set (18-0).
DEFENDING EIVA AWARD WINNERS FACE OFF
Friday's match at George Mason will feature both of last week's EIVA Player of the Week award recipients. Penn State's Jason Donorovich was the EIVA Offensive Player of the Week while George Mason's libero Will Calaman was the EIVA Defensive Player of the Week.
Donorovich set new single-game career highs with 13 kills and four service aces against Harvard and Sacred Heart last weekend. Calaman totaled 21 digs and no service reception errors over seven sets in a pair of matches a week ago.
NEXT UP
Penn State hosts Princeton and NJIT March 1-2 at Rec Hall. Both matches will start at 7 p.m.
