UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The No. 7 Penn State men's volleyball closes out its eight match home stand this weekend with visits from Saint Francis and No. 9 Ohio State. The Lions face EIVA Saint Francis on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. before challenging the Buckeyes at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9.
Head coach Mark Pavlik will be donning a fedora during Penn State's match with Saint Francis on Friday. The Nittany Lions are participating in the "EIVA Rallies" campaign to benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. For more information on Sloan-Kettering and how to donate, please visit www.mskcc.org/giving.
Nittany Lion Preview
It was another great weekend for the Nittany Lions with wins against Pfeiffer (3-0) and Mount Olive (3-0). Redshirt sophomore Nick Goodell (Ambridge, Pa.) averaged 4.20 kills per set on .400 hitting, while junior Peter Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) was second on the team with 3.00 kills per set. Redshirt freshman Taylor Hammond (Mission Viejo, Calif.) posted 12.67 assists per set and redshirt sophomore libero Connor Curry (Newport Beach, Calif.) led the Nittany Lions defensively with 2.33 digs per set. Redshirt freshman Matt Seifert (Reading, Pa.) was Penn State's top blocker with 1.40 blocks per set.
For the weekend, Penn State hit .333 and averaged 13.83 kills, 13.33 assists, 1.83 aces, 9.00 digs and 1.83 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Saint Francis
The Nittany Lions have never lost a match to Saint Francis owning a perfect 30-0 record. Last season the Red Flash and the Lions met twice in the regular season. Penn State swept the Red Flash on March 17 on the road and again on April 21 at home to close out regular season action.
Scouting the Red Flash
Saint Francis is 4-6 overall and 1-1 in the EIVA. The Red Flash has won three straight matches, taking down EIVA foe Sacred Heart (3-1) and sweeping Mount Olive and Pfeiffer. Junior Logan Patterson leads the Red Flash with 3.71 kills per set, while junior Colin Sherwin is second on the team with 2.66 per set. Senior Nick Bancroft has a team-high 2.71 digs per set average and senior Adam Roche is a wall at the net with 1.00 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Ohio State
Penn State is 68-25-1 all-time versus Ohio State dating back to 1978. The Lions have already met once this season at the Hawaii Outrigger Invitational. Penn State swept OSU, 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-22). Ohio State and Penn State will meet a third time in 2013 on March 16 in Columbus.
Scouting the Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are 7-2 overall and 4-0 on the road. Ohio State is on a five match winning streak having defeated Saint Francis, NJIT, and George Mason, as well as Lindenwood twice. Sophomore Michael Henchy leads the Buckeyes offensively with 3.70 kills per set with a .369 hitting percentage. Redshirt sophomore Peter Heinen, who averages 10.67 assists per set, had led the Buckeyes to a .300 hitting percentage. Defensively sophomore libero Brennan Anderson has a team-high 3.18 digs per set and senior middle Grayson Overman is the leader in blocks with 1.06 per set.
What's Next?
Penn State is on the road for the weekend of Feb. 15-16. The Lions travel to Harvard on Friday, Feb. 15 to face the Crimson at 7 p.m. before challenging the Pioneers on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit GoPSUsports.com.