UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 10 Penn State men's volleyball travels to California for its spring break trip to take on a pair of ranked opponents both tied for the sixth position in the AVCA Coaches Poll. Penn State takes on UC San Diego Wednesday night before heading to UC Irvine Friday evening.
Penn State aims to begin a new winning streak after its seven-game win spree was halted last Sunday, March 8, in Columbus against Ohio State, 3-1.
UPDATE FROM UC IRVINE
As announced by UCI and the Big West Conference on Tuesday evening, all UCI athletic events for the foreseeable future, including Penn State's match on Friday, March 13, will be closed events, meaning no fans will be permitted in the arena.
Our match Friday, March 13, at UCI will be a closed event per UCI Athletics.
— Penn State Men's Volleyball (@PennStateMVBALL) March 11, 2020
Fans can still follow the match at these links:
Video: https://t.co/dxoRLazzTn
Stats: https://t.co/XUuB9sms7j https://t.co/zWgcOQR73A
See the latest statement from Penn State University regarding large social gatherings, click here.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
#10 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-7, 7-0 EIVA) vs. #6 UC San Diego Tritons (13-5, 2-1 Big West)
Date: Wednesday, March 11
Location: RIMAC Arena | La Jolla, Calif.
Time: 7:00 p.m. PT | 10:00 p.m. ET
Video: ESPN 3
Stats: Live Stats
Penn State vs. #6 UC Irvine Anteaters (10-7, 0-0 Big West)
Date: Friday, March 13
Location: Bren Events Center | Irvine, Calif.
Time: 7:00 p.m. PT | 10:00 p.m. ET
Video: Big West TV
Stats: Live Stats
Game Notes: Penn State
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE TRITONS AND ANTEATERS
This Wednesday's match against UC San Diego marks the first time the two programs will play each other in the 25-point set era.
The two teams last met back in 2005 with Penn State coming out on top, 3-1 (31-33, 30-18, 30-17, 30-27). The all-time series is split 2-2 with Penn State holding a 2-1 edge in games played in La Jolla.
The Nittany Lions are 5-8 all-time against UC Irvine, including a 3-1 win in their latest meeting in March, 2016 at Rec Hall. Prior to that win, UCI had won the previous four matches dating back to the 2011 season.
NITTANY LION NOTES
- Penn State has been in the top 10 in both the AVCA Coaches Poll (10) and the Off The Block Media Poll (8) for eight-straight weeks. Penn State was ranked 8th in the AVCA and 7th in the OTB polls before last Sunday's loss to Ohio State.
- Here are Penn State's ranks as a team and individually in the NCAA in 2020 (As of 3/8):
- Aces per set 2.08 1st
- Hitting % .301 10th
- Kills per set 12.72 11th
- Assists per set 11.74 11th
- Blocks per set 2.16 19th
- Cole Bogner - S, So.
Assists per set 10.33 6th
- Brett Wildman - OH, So.
Kills per set 3.69 18th
Points per set 4.25 23rd
Aces per set .393 26th
Hitting % .331 28th
- Will Bantle - L, R-So.
Digs per set 2.16 17th
- Jason Donorovich - MB, R-Sr.
Aces per set .557 7th
Blocks per set .869 36th
- Cal Fisher - OPP, So.
Aces per set .426 19th
Hitting % .315 38th
NEXT UP
Penn State returns home for its second-to-last home series of the 2020 season March 20-21 against Saint Francis and Purdue Fort Wayne. Friday's match against the Red Flash will be in Rec Hall's main gym while Saturday's match with PFW will be in the South Gym. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.
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.