UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The No. 9 Penn State men's volleyball team heads to NJIT for a ranked matchup against the No. 11 Highlanders with big implications for the EIVA standings this weekend, March 19-20.
This weekend's series is the featured Molton/Off the Block National Match of the Week.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Penn State (12-2, 9-1 EIVA) vs. NJIT (11-3, 11-1 EIVA)
Dates: Friday, March 19 | Saturday, March 20
Times: 4 p.m. | 4 p.m.
Watch: America East TV
Stats: Live Stats
Game Notes: Penn State Game Notes
THE MATCHUP
Penn State leads the all-time matchup 46-2 against the Highlanders, but this year's NJIT squad is a new force to be reckoned with. Both teams split their series back in mid-February at Rec Hall with PSU winning 3-1 in match one, followed by a 3-0 win for NJIT in the second match.
This weekend's series marks the first ranked-vs.-ranked matchup against the Highlanders in the series history. The Nittany Lions rank ninth in the AVCA coaches poll with the Highlanders close behind at No. 11. Penn State holds a No. 10 ranking in the Off the Block media poll while NJIT is receiving votes.
Both teams are among the hottest in men's volleyball as neither team has lost since playing each other back in February. Penn State is riding a six-match win streak and NJIT has won nine in a row.
NITTANY LION OUTLOOK
Junior opposite Cal Fisher has turned into one of the best point scorers in the country and is armed with arguably the best serve in country this season. His 35 aces lead the nation and he ranks among the best in the EIVA in more offensive categories:
Total kills: 156 – 2nd
Kills per set: 3.32 – 3rd
Hitting percentage: 3.27 – 3rd
Fisher also had a special match Feb. 15 against NJIT with seven aces, a single-match career high for him as well as the most aces in a four-set match by any player in the country this season.
Junior setter Cole Bogner has found a groove directing Penn State's offense of late, as the Nittany Lions have hit above .325 in each of their last four matches, including a season-best .519 mark March 6 against Charleston
This weekend's match pits the 2020 Co-EIVA Players of the Year against each other for the first time this season as Brett Wildman takes the court against counterpart Alvaro Gimeno and the Highlanders after missing last February's match with an injury. Wildman has five-straight matches with double-digit kills since returning to the lineup, a 10-kill match hitting a career-best .667 without an error March 6 vs. Charleston.
Penn State's nation-leading 12 wins in the 2021 season have been the result of balanced offensive and defensive play along with a devastating serve-and-receive game. Penn State ranks in the top 10 nationally in several team categories:
Total aces: 99 – 2nd
Aces per set: 2.11 – T2nd
Hitting percentage: .318 – 5th
Opponent hitting percentage: .222 – 10th
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.
