UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The fifth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team begins its 2022 regular season with a marquee nonconference series against No. 6 BYU this Thursday and Saturday, Jan. 6 & 8, at Rec Hall.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Dates: Thursday, Jan. 6 | Saturday, Jan. 8
Place: Rec Hall Main Gym
Times: 7 p.m. both nights
Stats: Matches 1 & 2
B1G+ Stream ($): Thursday | Saturday
Admission: FREE for all home regular season matches!
PARKING INFORMATION
All Penn State Athletics non-football events will require a valid permit or payment of the applicable parking fee for campus lots. Complimentary parking will no longer be issued for season ticket holders.
Fans with valid Penn State University Park parking permits will be permitted to park at non-football athletics events for free, following Transportation Services parking policies and access.
Fans without a permit are encouraged to prepay for event parking at a discounted rate through ParkMobile - https://psu.parkmobile.io/. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day prior to each event. Season packages will be available for general parking for most sports, and information on VIP parking options available for select events will be released later.
Please visit the 2022 Men's Volleyball Parking page for additional information.
Non-football event parking is managed by Penn State Transportation Services. For more information on parking for this event, please email parking@psu.edu or call 814-865-1436.
MASKING AT REC HALL
For the 2022 season, all guests must wear face coverings in accordance with state, local and University regulations.
MATCH NOTES & SERIES HISTORY
- Penn State comes into the 2022 season ranked 5th in the preseason AVCA poll, its highest preseason ranking since 2010. The Nittany Lions finished the 2021 season with a nation-best 22 wins and their 32nd EIVA Tournament title.
- The Nittany Lions were chosen as the unanimous preseason favorite in the preseason EIVA coaches poll. Mark Pavlik's chosen players to watch are senior OH Brett Wildman and sophomore MB Toby Ezeonu.
- Penn State returns its entire starting lineup and regular rotation of players from its 2021 NCAA Tournament campaign. That includes three Off the Block Preseason All-Americans in senior S Cole Bogner, OPP Cal Fisher, and OH Brett Wildman. PSU also welcomes back 2021 All-EIVA performers in senior L Will Bantle and MB Sam Marsh.
- Head coach Mark Pavlik became the fifth coach in men's volleyball history to reach 600 career wins March 27 vs. SHU. His 606 wins are the most among active DI-II men's coaches. This week's series features DI-II's winningest active coach in Pavlik and the active coach with the best winning percentage in BYU's Shawn Olmstead (.794, 212-55).
- Penn State nationally in 2021: 1st in aces (183) 2nd in aces per set (2.13), 3rd in opponent H% (.201), and 4th in hitting percentage (.331).
- BYU leads the all-time series against the Nittany Lions 15-10 since their first meeting in 1987. The Cougars swept its last series against PSU in Provo Jan. 10-11, 2020 and have won 10-straight over the Nittany Lions dating back to 2007. In the programs' last meeting at Rec Hall Jan. 18, 2019, BYU edged the Nittany Lions in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (25-22, 25-27, 26-28, 25-19, 15-13).
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.