UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 19 Penn State Men's Volleyball heads to Phoenix for a pair of matches at No. 15 Grand Canyon this weekend. The teams play Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, and then meet again Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. Both matches will be played at Global Credit Union Arena and will stream on B1G+.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Saturday, March 8 – 9 p.m. ET
#19 Penn State (5-8, 2-2 EIVA) at #15 Grand Canyon (9-5, 0-2 MPSF) | Live Stats | Watch
Sunday, March 9 – p.m. ET
#19 Penn State (5-8, 2-2 EIVA) at #15 Grand Canyon (9-5, 0-2 MPSF) | Live Stats | Watch
OPENING NOTES
• Penn State goes back on the road for an extended trip during spring break. The trip starts this weekend as the Nittany Lions head to Phoenix to take on No. 15 Grand Canyon on Saturday and Sunday. From there they travel to Honolulu for the Outrigger Challenge, where they will play No. 5 USC, No. 3 Hawaii, and No. 12 Ball State.
• The Nittany Lions have played matches in Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and will now add Arizona and Hawaii to that list.
• Penn State is 3-6 against non-conference opponents this season, winning their past three over Saint Francis (twice) and Merrimack. All six losses came to nationally-ranked teams.
LAST TIME OUT
• Will Kuhns recorded his first-career double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs to lead Penn State to a 3-1 win over Merrimack at Rec Hall
• Sean Harvey played the final two sets in the win over the Warriors and hit .538 with seven kills, two blocks, and one ace.
SERIES HISTORY
• Penn State and Grand Canyon will meet for the third and fourth time in program history. The teams first played a pair of matches at Rec Hall in 2022.
• The Nittany Lions won both matchups in 2022 with a pair of sweeps.
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON
• Grand Canyon is ranked 12th in the AVCA Coaches Poll and is 9-5 overall and 0-2 in the MPSF following four straight losses to No. 12 CSUN (3-1), No. 1 Long Beach State (3-0), No. 9 Pepperdine (3-1), and No. 9 Pepperdine again (3-1).
• The Antelopes were picked fifth in the MPSF Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Jarrett Anderson, a 6-5 opposite, entered the season as the nation’s active leader in aces across all divisions. He has 11 this season to give him 275 for his career.
CAREER HIGHS SET LAST MATCH
vs. Merrimack
• Will Kuhns - assists (4), digs (11)
• Miller Trubey - blocks (4)
STREAKS TO WATCH
Gaige Gabriel
• 8 straight matches with at least five kills
Will Kuhns
• 4 straight matches with at least one ace
• 3 straight matches with double-digit kills
Ryan Merk
• 73 straight serve receptions with no aces
• 4 straight matches without allowing an ace
• 74 straight starts at libero
UP NEXT
• Penn State stays on the road as it leaves Phoenix and heads directly to Honolulu for the Outrigger Challenge. The Nittany Lions will play USC, Hawaii, and Ball State at the event.