UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's volleyball team begins the second half of its EIVA schedule Tuesday evening with a critical match against Saint Francis (Pa.) at Rec Hall. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Saint Francis (11-10, 5-2 EIVA) vs. Penn State (9-12, 5-2 EIVA)
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Rec Hall
Notes: Penn State Game Notes | Saint Francis Statistics
Live Stats: Live Statistics
Video: BTN-Plus Student U
OPENING SERVE
The Red Flash and Nittany Lions both carry a 5-2 record in EIVA play and are currently ranked in the final two spots in the standings for EIVA postseason eligibility.
These two teams last met in Loretto back on Jan. 21 and the Nittany Lions were able to manage a 3-1 road victory. After harsh winter weather delayed the match from Sunday to Monday, both teams split the first two sets before Penn State won sets three and four. Jason Donorovich (12) and Cal Fisher (10) led the way for Penn State in kills. The Red Flash did outhit the Nittany Lions in the match.
Penn State is coming off its first sweep in a little less than a month with a 3-0 win over rival Ohio State last Tuesday. The Nittany Lions avenged their season-opening loss to the Buckeyes with solid all-around performances throughout their lineup, including four players with double-digit points.
The Red Flash have dropped four-straight matches all against ranked opponents including #2 Long Beach State March 9. SFU's last matches came on its trip to Indiana March 15-16 where they fell to both Purdue Fort Wayne and Ball State. Redshirt junior outside hitter Michael Fisher is among the nations' elite attackers as he leads the country with 4.7 kills per set while hitting .333.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Nittany Lions lead the Red Flash 43-3 all-time including winning the last four matches in the series. Saint Francis has won its three matches within the last ten games in the series dating back to 2015.
The Red Flash beat the Nittany Lions for the first time ever March 18, 2016, but Penn State's last EIVA Championship in 2017 came in a three-set sweep over Saint Francis.
COMFORT AT HOME
The Nittany Lions are 3-1 versus EIVA opponents at Rec Hall this season with a 10-4 edge in set count. PSU has also outhit opponents by nearly .100 (.326-.227) in home conference matches. Henrik Falck Lauten has 45 kills in four home conference matches and Jason Donorovich has hit .579 (27-5-38).
McLAREN HEATING UP
Matthew McLaren is rounding into form for the final stretch of the regular season He has had 10 kills in all three of the past matches while hitting above .300 in each contest. He's also had double-digit kills in seven of his last ten outings paired with 43 digs and nine blocks.
MORE NITTANY NOTES
- Penn State's final seven matches of the regular season are all against EIVA opponents. The Nittany Lions currently sit in the fourth in the conference standings and are looking to extend their current streak of 42-consecutive postseason appearances.
- Falck Lauten's efforts last Tuesday earned him the second EIVA Defensive Player of the Week award for the Nittany Lions in 2019.
- Cole Bogner started his first match in over a month against Ohio State and tallied 32 assists and five digs.
- Brett Wildman had at least seven kills for the fourth time in the last five games versus the Buckeyes. He has also started all five of those matches at opposite for Penn State.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions make their New England trip to face Harvard and Sacred Heart this weekend, March 29-30.
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.