Following a rematch with George Mason in last weekend's EIVA Championship, Penn State's team earned a ticket to the NCAA Tournament this week in Long Beach, California.
It was a special night at Rec Hall last Saturday as the Blue and White captured the EIVA Championship for the second consecutive season. Despite the Patriots' fight and athleticism, the Nittany Lions defeated them 3-1.
With only a few games remaining in the postseason, the Nittany Lions will leave the unpredictable weather in State College and head to sunny California to face the University of California, Irvine in the first leg of the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
During the 2023 regular season, Penn State traveled to Irvine, California to face the Anteeters at home. The Nittany Lions defeated the University of California, Irvine, 3-2, despite both teams repeating set wins.
Penn State, which has an 8-3 away record this season, showed quick action on enemy territory. Just below the Blue and White's record is the Anteaters, who are 7-5 against road opponents.
The fate of the game is currently unknown, as both Penn State and UC Irvine quickly adjust to new territory.
Blue and White have amassed 1370 kills as a unit this season, which shows how dependent they are on each other. The majority of the Nittany Lion's kills are thanks to opposite hitter John Kerr and middle blocker Toby Ezeonu, who have led the team to many wins this season.
Carr leads the team with 406 kills and shows he's the type of leader he is on the court. His dedication and quick attacking ability is why he was named EIVA Player of the Year in mid-April.
Following Carr's 251 kills is Ezeonu, a key offensive player for the Nittany Lions. In last weekend's game against George Mason, Ezeonu had 16 kills to lead her team to victory.
Both Kerr and Ezeonu have no intention of avoiding this week's game, as this matchup could be their last as Nittany Lions.
Penn State has great players on the team, but UC Irvine has some tricks of its own.
Candle the Anteater has 1454 kills this season, which shows what kind of teams Penn State is up against. University of California, Irvine's star outside hitter Hilil Henno leads the team with 520 kills.
In mid-February, the French native was named AVCA Player of the Week for his strong attacking ability and consistency of play. Henno will play a big role in ensuring the team takes the lead this week against Penn State.
For both teams, strong players and incredible athleticism were the driving forces behind their success in the postseason. Given the close records and similar statistics, the matchup between Penn State and UC Irvine will likely be a tough one.
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