Posted April 15, 2024 | Story by Jack Rachinsky | Photo by Megan Miller
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions got their wish against No. 16 George Mason: hosting the EIVA Tournament.
While the blue and white clinched the No. 1 seed in Friday’s matchup, Penn State wanted to maintain its winning form with a victory on Senior Day.
Both squads played their starting lineups in the Saturday game, despite their places in the EIVA standings being locked up.
Additionally, the graduating seniors individually received a standing ovation from the Rec Hall crowd as they checked out in the final set.
Penn State was able to squash George Mason’s momentum heading into the series. The Patriots were riding an 11-game win streak with Omar Hoyos and Colin Heath collecting the EIVA’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week awards.
Hoyos and Heath had a combined 20 kills in the match, but the team only hit .178 en route to a four-set win for Penn State.
On the opposition, John Kerr had 20 kills of his own. Michal Kowal was 2nd in that category, netting 10 kills on 18 attempts.
Junior middle blocker Owen Rose also had a phenomenal night. The Long Island, N.Y. native led the team with .636 hitting and 5 blocks.
While the team celebrated another EIVA regular season championship, the focus now shifts to the postseason. With the No. 1 seed clinched, Rec Hall will now play host to all EIVA tournament matchups. Penn State and George Mason also get first-round byes as the top two seeds.
Throughout the season, head coach Mark Pavlik has emphasized the importance of playing at home for the tournament.
“I think that’s one of the top goals every year,” Pavlik said. “We want to not have to get on a bus someplace”
The ability to control everything by being at home, according to Pavlik, is a massive advantage physically and psychologically for the players.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to be able to run the routine they want to run,” Pavlik said.
Pavlik and the team’s determination to host might also come from their 13-0 record at home this season. The George Mason series also extended Penn State’s EIVA regular season win streak to a program-record 38 games.
Penn State is looking for its second straight EIVA tournament title. It hosted the contests as the No. 1 seed which included a 3-1 victory over No. 4 George Mason in the semi-finals.
This season, No. 3 seed Princeton and No. 6 Charleston face off in the first round on Wednesday, April 17 at 4:30 p.m. That match is followed by No. 4 NJIT versus No. 5 Harvard.
Coincidentally, both matchups occurred last weekend in the regular season. NJIT swept Harvard on the road while Charleston and Princeton split their series in New Jersey.
Penn State will face the lower seed and George Mason will face the higher seed in the semi-finals on Thursday, April 18.
The stage is set for a week of action-packed volleyball play in Happy Valley.
Jack Rachinsky is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jjr6682@psu.edu.
Penn State CommRadio 