UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's volleyball team wraps up its 2019 regular season schedule with a pair of road matches this weekend in New Jersey. The Nittany Lions take on NJIT Friday night at 6 p.m. before squaring off with Princeton Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Penn State (13-13, 9-3 EIVA) at NJIT (9-13, 4-8 EIVA)
Date: Friday, April 12
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: NJIT Wellness & Events Center | Newark, N.J.
Watch: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Stats: Live Statistics
Penn State vs. (RV) Princeton (13-12, 11-1 EIVA)
Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Dillon Gymnasium | Princeton, N.J.
Watch: ESPN+ (subscription required)
Stats: Live Statistics
Weekend game notes: Penn State Game Notes
OPENING SERVE
The Nittany Lions put together a solid offensive effort in four sets against NJIT in early March. A day earlier, Penn State won the first set against Princeton before eventually falling in four sets.
Penn State defeated the University of Charleston in straight sets last Friday night to secure a spot in the EIVA postseason tournament. On Saturday night, the Nittany Lions' five-match win streak came to an end after a tough three-set loss against George Mason on their senior night. Earning both a win and loss at home last weekend, the Nittany Lions moved from second to third place in the EIVA standings.
NJIT is currently on a two-game winning streak, sweeping both Sacred Heart and Harvard at their home court last weekend. They are currently ranked sixth in the EIVA, with a conference record of 4-8 and an overall record of 9-13.
Sitting at the top of the conference is Princeton with 11 wins and only one loss in EIVA play. Leading the team during its three-match winning streak is George Huhmann, who was named the latest EIVA Offensive Player of the Week. With the help of Huhmann, the Tigers defeated Harvard in five sets and finished their weekend with a three-set sweep against Sacred Heart.
EIVA TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS
- The 2019 EIVA Tournament field has been set with the following four teams: Princeton, Saint Francis, Penn State, and George Mason.
- The Nittany Lions have qualified for 42-consecutive conference tournaments dating back to their inaugural varsity season in 1977.
- Several scenarios remain in terms of seeding for the tournament, including who will take the top overall seed and play host for the tournament.
- Penn State can finish in any of the four tournament seeds depending on the outcoming of matches this weekend.
- Princeton controls its own destiny and needs just one win this weekend over Saint Francis or Penn State to host the EIVA Tournament for the first time ever.
- Penn State can still host the tournament if the following were to occur: Penn State defeats both NJIT and Princeton AND Princeton loses to Saint Francis. Penn State would also have to defeat Princeton in straight sets OR in four sets by a total of seven points or greater.
- A three-way tie for the #1 spot is also possible if the above criteria would be reached AND Saint Francis were to defeat both Princeton and NJIT. Penn State would own the tiebreaker among the three tied teams with a 3-1 overall record head-to-head among the tied teams; SFU 2-2; Princeton 1-3.
- The full EIVA tiebreaker scenarios are as follows:
- Head-to-head match record;
- Head-to-head sets won against each other;
- Head-to-head points amongst the tied teams;
- Sets winning percentage within the conference;
- Points against teams within the conference;
- Coin toss by the EIVA Commissioner.
NEXT UP
The EIVA Tournament is set to begin next Thursday, April 18, with the semifinal round at a time and location yet to be determined. The championship match will be played Saturday, April 20. The winner of the EIVA Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament which will begin the following week.