Match Preview: Penn State Men’s Volleyball vs. Charleston
The Penn State Nittany Lions have been tearing it up lately, as they have swept their last four matches on the road against conference foes Harvard and George Mason.
The Nittany Lions will ride their hot streak back to Rec Hall with two EIVA games against the Charleston Golden Eagles on Friday and Saturday to cap off the regular season. Penn State claims a 22-3 overall record and 8-0 conference record.
The blue and white remain No. 3 in the country, which is now 10-straight weeks in the top three.
Cal Fisher was also crowned as the EIVA Offensive Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career. Fisher amassed 27 kills across two games against George Mason, and was a significant cog for the Nittany Lions’ offensive production.
The matches against Charleston come right before the EIVA Tournament that will be hosted at University Park. The event begins next Wednesday, and Penn State holds the No. 1 seed in the tournament; which automatically hands the Nittany Lions a bid to the semifinals.
The blue and white can’t be caught looking too far ahead though, as the Golden Eagles step in with a 22-4 overall record and 5-3 conference record.
With two losses in a row, Charleston is aiming to finish off the campaign strong and potentially surprise Penn State at certain moments.
The Nittany Lions’ offensive production has been among the best in the country, which will pose a big challenge to the Golden Eagles’ defense. Fisher, Michal Kowal and Toby Ezeonu have all been lethal forces on the floor.
Charleston’s offense will likely have to do the heavy lifting to keep up over the weekend, although the Golden Eagles’ defense has 842 digs compared to the Nittany Lions’ 762. So Charleston could thwart some Penn State attacks that normally fold most competitors.
The Nittany Lions and Golden Eagles are statistically fairly even on offense, with Penn State posting 1,108 kills and Charleston holding 1,041. Both squads are also similar in other areas, such as assists and blocks.
The blue and white have a leg up in service aces, though and could use that to their advantage throughout the matches. The Nittany Lions boast 186 service aces compared to the Golden Eagles’ 98. Fisher and Brett Wildman have accounted for 78 of Penn State’s 186 aces. For Charleston, its ace leaders are Garret Schnitker and Diego Villafane who each have 16.
The Golden Eagles could be considered top-heavy with their offensive pieces, as Schnitker, Lachlan Bray and Luuk Hoge Bavel all combine for 621 of the team’s 1,041 kills.
Penn State’s offense and defense has more depth within its production this season, while Charleston has three-primary players supporting the team.
As a whole, this weekend’s games should contain some interesting moments of back-and-forth action. But if the Nittany Lions can stint the Golden Eagles’ playmakers, utilize their strengths and continue excelling in the service department, they should have no problem taking care of business.
Jake Irwin is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jpi5089@psu.edu.
