**Fans attending the Penn State's men's volleyball match on Saturday at 3 p.m. should note that Penn State wrestling competes at Rec Hall at 4 p.m. The wrestling match may cause heavy traffic around and in the parking areas. Fans attending men's volleyball will use the Hepper Fitness entrance to get to South Gym and should plan to arrive early (doors open at 2 p.m.) to avoid traffic/parking issues.**
No. 13 Men's Volleyball Opens Season Friday and Saturday at Rec Hall
The Nittany Lions host Mount Olive on Friday at 6 p.m., and welcome Manhattan on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Series Breakdown
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VS. |  |
SERIES HISTORY - MOUNT OLIVE
• Penn State and Mount Olive will meet for the 12th time in the series history.
• The Nittany Lions won the most recent meeting by a 3-1 score to open the 2018 season. That match was also played at Rec Hall. Calvin Mende hit .667 with 15 kills and three blocks in the win. Jalen Penrose hit .615 with 10 kills, two blocks, and four aces.
• Every match in the series was played at Rec Hall. Penn State swept the first 10 before losing the one set in 2018.
| Year | Winner | Score | Location |
| 2005 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2008 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2009 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2011 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2012 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2013 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2014 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2015 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2016 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2017 | Penn State | 3-0 | Rec Hall |
| 2018 | Penn State | 3-1 | Rec Hall |
PENN STATE VS. CONFERENCE CAROLINAS
• Penn State is unbeaten at 19-0 all-time against current members of the Conference Carolinas.
• The Nittany Lions have played six of the eight teams — Mount Olive (11-0), Lees-McRae (3-0), Erskine (2-0), Belmont Abbey (1-0), King (1-0), and North Greenville (1-0).
• Penn State last played Conference Carolinas teams in 2024 when it swept both King and Lees-McRae.
| Team | Record | Last Played | Score |
| Barton | 0-0 | -- | -- |
| Belmont Abbey | 1-0 | 2021 | 3-0 |
| Emmanuel | 0-0 | -- | -- |
| Erskine | 2-0 | 2015 | 3-0 |
| King | 1-0 | 2024 | 3-0 |
| Lees-McRae | 3-0 | 2024 | 3-0 |
| Mount Olive | 11-0 | 2018 | 3-1 |
| North Greenville | 1-0 | 2019 | 3-0 |
| Total | 19-0 |
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VS. |  |
SERIES HISTORY - MANHATTAN
• Penn State and Manhattan will meet for the first time. It is the Jaspers’ first match as a NCAA Division I men’s volleyball program.
PENN STATE VS. NEC
• Penn State is unbeaten at 59-3 all-time against current members of the NEC.
• The Nittany Lions have played three of the seven teams — Saint Francis (56-3), Daemen (2-0), and FDU (1-0).
• Penn State last played an NEC team when it swept Daemen in the NCAA Opening Round last season.
• The Nittany Lions' last loss to an NEC team came to Saint Francis in 2017.
| Team | Record | Last Played | Score |
| Daemen | 2-0 | 2025 | W, 3-0 |
| D'Youville | 0-0 | -- | -- |
| FDU | 1-0 | 2024 | W, 3-1 |
| LIU | 0-0 | -- | -- |
| Manhattan | 0-0 | -- | -- |
| Saint Francis | 56-3 | 2025 | 3-0 |
| UMES | 0-0 | -- | -- |
| Total | 59-3 |
The Opponents
SCOUTING MOUNT OLIVE
• Mount Olive is coming off a season in which it went 20-4 overall and a perfect 14-0 in the Conference Carolinas during the regular season.
• The Trojans came up just short of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, falling to Belmont Abbey in the championship match of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
• Mount Olive was picked second in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll, coming in behind Belmont Abbey. Senior setter Jackson Lahey, sophomore libero Luca Colombo, and senior opposite Kory Grant were all named Players to Watch.
• Lahey was an AVCA honorable mention All-American and the Conference Carolinas Player of the Year last season.
SCOUTING MANHATTAN
• Manhattan is set to begin its first season as an NCAA Division I men's volleyball program, beginning with Saturday's match in Happy Valley.
• The Jaspers were picked fifth in the 2026 NEC Preseason Poll.
Penn State Notes
Thirty-plus years of doing anything is a long time, and I’ve been fortunate to do it at my alma mater with some great people over the years both on the staff and in the administration. Both athletic and institutional administration have really helped the program to grow and continue to get better. I feel really blessed to have been able to give back to the University in whatever manner I could.
Mark Pavlik