Penn State Nittany Lions aim to step up their play over the weekend
The Penn State Nittany Lions men’s volleyball team have not had much luck in the last few games that they have played. The Lions suffered a defeat at the hands of Ohio State on Wednesday. The sixth ranked Ohio State men’s volleyball
team clean-swept Penn State. The Lions were toppled for the second time in last three games that they have played on Wednesday night at Columbus. Penn State is now looking ahead to the weekend to lift their spirits up as Ohio State shattered their plans.
Currently ranked number nine, the Nittany Lions have won two matches and lost none in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. If the overall season statistics are considered, then the Lions have seven wins in comparison
to three defeats to their name. This weekend, they hope to increase their wins’ tally by taking on arch-EIVA-rivals, the Rutgers-Newarks and Princeton. The matches will take place at Rec Hall.
However, it will not be an easy task to overcome the two conference opponents. The Lions suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Scarlet Raiders in March 2010 in Newark. It was their first loss against the Raiders since 2004.
The Rutgers-Newark team has not let the time lapse diminish their performance; instead, the Raiders are in prime form this season. The Raiders are heading towards Rec Hall with eight straight wins against no losses and they certainly do not plan to make one
over the weekend either.
However, the Raiders’ coach Karl France quashed all rumours of his team being over confident going into the game. He is of the opinion that Rec Hall can be a tough court to play at for any side.
“It can get pretty loud if the crowd’s really into the match, so I’m hoping they’re not into it,” France said. “I’m hoping they’re sleeping or hanging out downtown on Route 26 instead of coming out and watching us play.”
The Raiders feature an outstanding player in their line-up whom the Penn State coach, Mark Pavlik still remembers from the last encounter. Marcin Midura, a junior amongst the Raiders’ ranks features on the outside hitter position.
Midura rained down a devastating 22 kills on the Penn State team, which proved to be a lethal blow for the Lions in that match.
The Lions will have to devise two entirely different strategies against the Raiders on Friday and Princeton on Saturday. However, comparing both the Lions’ opponents, Princeton is a weaker team as they have only been able to score
one win in this season. According to the Tiger’s coach, Sam Shweisky, the priority of the team would be to recollect themselves so that they can improve their performance in what is left of the season.
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