UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's volleyball team will square off with in-state rival and top-seeded Penn State in the EIVA Semifinals on Thursday night at Rec Hall.
The Red Flash is set to appear in its second-consecutive EIVA Semifinal and faces the Nittany Lions for the third time this season.
Attendance at the match is limited to individuals on the two teams' guest lists.
The Matchup: No. 4 Saint Francis (8-18, 6-12) vs. No. 1 Penn State (19-3, 16-2)
Location: Rec Hall (University Park, Pa.)
Date: Thursday, April 22 – 7:30 p.m.
Watch: B1G Network+ (free this weekend)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State comes into the match ranked No. 8 in the country, only taking three total losses this season. Their only conference losses came once at the hands of NJIT and George Mason. The Nittany Lions have not played since April 10 against Charleston after picking up a tournament first-round bye.
As a team, Penn State leads the conference with 2.03 aces per set, and a .328 hitting percentage. The aces per set also places the team second nationally, and the hitting percentage places them sixth.
The Penn State offense is led by Cal Fisher, who sits second in the conference with 225 total kills, five behind Michael Fisher. Cal Fisher also sits at fourth in kills per set with 3.36, and second with a .333 hitting percentage. Cole Bogner does the passing for the Nittany Lions, and ranks second in the conference with 9.63 assists per set.
Defensively, Sam Marsh is fourth in the conference and first on the team with a 7-50-57 block line and 0.85 blocks per set, and Will Bantle is fourth in the EIVA with 123 digs.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads the all-time series, 47-3, dating back to 1994. Currently, Penn State is on an eight-match winning streak against the Red Flash.
LAST TIME OUT
On Saturday, the Red Flash took down Charleston in four sets in the first round of the EIVA Conference Tournament. After dropping the first set, the Red Flash took the next three behind a match-high 22 kills from Michael Fisher.
REGULAR SEASON MEETINGS
Penn State has taken two of two against the Red Flash this season. The teams met the first weekend of February at Rec Hall, where the Nittany Lions won, 3-0 and 3-2. The two matches slated for DeGol Arena were canceled.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
As a team, Saint Francis ranks seventh in the country with 1.51 aces per set, while Joshua Blair ranks ninth in season hitting percentage at .433.
EIVA RANKINGS
The Red Flash finished the regular season in second in the conference with 8.93 digs per set, and third in both aces per set (1.51), and blocks per set (1.88).
Individually, Michael Fisher led the EIVA in kills (230), and total attacks (537), while ranking second in kills per set (3.83). Joshua Blair's .433 hitting percentage was tops in the conference, while Roman Szwabinsky's 8.16 assists per set was fifth.
Defensively, Blair also led the conference with a 9-58-67 block line, while Thomas Leahey ranked second in blocks per set at 0.88, and third in blocks with a line of 7-50-57. Matthew Menosky and AJ Schmidt also each rank in the top five in digs, with Menosky coming in a second with 152, and Schmidt at fifth with 116.
RED FLASH INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
KILLS – Michael Fisher (3.94)
ASST – Roman Szwabinsky (8.16)
DIGS – Matthew Menosky (1.67)
BLOCKS – Thomas Leahey (0.88)
SERVICE ACES – Michael Fisher (0.31)
UP NEXT
A win would send the Red Flash to the EIVA Conference Championship Match, where it would take on the winner of No. 2 NJIT and No. 3 George Mason. A loss will put an end to Saint Francis' season.
Follow Saint Francis Men's Volleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash.
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.
