2021 Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball team

2021 Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball
EIVA Tournament Champions EIVA regular season champions
NCAA Tournament, L, Quarterfinals
Conference	Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association
Record	22–4 (16–2 EIVA)
Head coach	Mark Pavlik (27th season)
Assistant coaches	Colin McMillan (14th season) Ryan Walthall (5th season)
Home arena	Rec Hall
Seasons ← 2020 2022  →

2021 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 8 Penn State  ‍†‍‡‍y	16	–	2		.889			22	–	4		.846
No. 11 NJIT  ‍‍‍	13	–	3		.813			13	–	6		.684
No. 13 George Mason  ‍‍‍	11	–	5		.688			15	–	7		.682
St. Francis  ‍‍‍	6	–	12		.333			7	–	19		.269
Charleston  ‍‍‍	4	–	12		.250			4	–	12		.250
Sacred Heart  ‍‍‍	0	–	16		.000			1	–	19		.050
† – Conference champion ‡ – 2021 EIVA Tournament champion y- Invited to the NCAA volleyball tournament As of 8 May 2021 Rankings from AVCA

The 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I & II men's volleyball season. The Nittany Lions, led by 27th-year head coach Mark Pavlik, played their home games at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions were members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and were picked to win the EIVA in the preseason poll. ^[1] The Nittany Lions played mostly a conference schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After winning the EIVA regular season and conference tournament titles the Nittany Lions qualified for the NCAA Tournament. After winning the opening round match the Nittany Lions fell in the semifinals to Lewis.

Roster

2021 Penn State Nittany Lions roster [2]
	Defensive Specialist/Libero 2 Tim Herget - Sophomore 20 Will Bantle - Junior Middle blockers 13 Andrew Watts - Sophomore 14 Sam Marsh - Junior 15 Canyon Tuman - Junior 16 Ian Argento - Freshman 18 Tony Ezeonu - Freshman		Outside hitters 2 Tim Herget - Sophomore 3 Jack Shampine - Sophomore 4 Michael Valenzi - Freshman 5 Mitch Tucker - Freshman 8 Michal Kowal - Freshman 9 John Kerr - Sophomore 10 Gabe Hartke - Sophomore 12 Brett Wildman - Junior 17 Will Kuhns - Freshman 19 Cal Fisher - Junior		Opposite hitters 7 Bogdan Ivanov - Freshman 11 Jack Driscoll - Sophomore 19 Cal Fisher - Junior Setters 1 Josh Tuaniga - Junior 6 Cole Bogner - Junior 11 Jack Driscoll - Sophomore

Schedule

Date Time	Opponent	Rank	Arena City (Tournament)	Television	Score	Attendance	Record (EIVA Record)
1/22 7 p.m.	@ #14 Ohio State	#11	Covelli Center Columbus, OH	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–20, 25–23, 25–22)	0	1–0
1/23 7 p.m.	@ #14 Ohio State	#11	Covelli Center Columbus, OH	B1G+	L 0–3 (22–25, 23–25, 17–25)	0	1–1
1/29 7 p.m.	#13 Ohio State	#11	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–16, 25–17, 25–21)	135	2–1
1/30 2:30 p.m.	#13 Ohio State	#11	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–17, 25–16, 25–19)	134	3–1
2/4 8 p.m.	St. Francis*	#11	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–17, 25–16, 25–19)	134	4–1 (1–0)
2/6 1:30 p.m.	St. Francis*	#11	Rec Hall University, Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–2 (25–27, 25–13, 23–25, 25–21, 16–14)	141	5–1 (2–0)
2/13 3 p.m.	NJIT*	#11	Rec Hall South Gym University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–1 (25–17, 21–25, 25–17, 25–21)	97	6–1 (3–0)
2/14 3 p.m.	NJIT*	#11	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	L 0–3 (21–25, 22–25, 9–25)	128	6–2 (3–1)
2/20 7 p.m.	Sacred Heart*	#12	William H. Pitt Center Fairfield, CT	NEC Front Row	W 3–0 (25–16, 25–14, 25–15)	0	7–2 (4–1)
2/21 1 p.m.	Sacred Heart*	#12	William H. Pitt Center Fairfield, CT	NEC Front Row	W 3–1 (25–16, 25–17, 23–25, 25–19)	0	8–2 (5–1)
2/26 7 p.m.	#12 George Mason*	#10	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–1 (26–24, 25–20, 24–26, 25–16)	153	9–2 (6–1)
2/27 7 p.m.	#12 George Mason*	#10	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–19, 25–21, 25–16)	163	10–2 (7–1)
3/5 7 p.m.	Charleston (WV)*	#10	Rec Hall South Gym University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–20, 25–14, 25–21)	20	11–2 (8–1)
3/6 7 p.m.	Charleston (WV)*	#10	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–16, 25–23, 25–23)	133	12–2 (9–1)
3/12 7 p.m.	St. Francis*	#9	DeGol Arena Loretto, PA	NEC Front Row	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
3/13 7 p.m.	St. Francis*	#9	DeGol Arena Loretto, PA	NEC Front Row
3/19 4 p.m.	#11 NJIT*	#9	Wellness and Events Center Newark, NJ	America East TV	W 3–0 (33–31, 25–23, 25–21)	0	13–2 (10–1)
3/20 4 p.m.	#11 NJIT*	#9	Wellness and Events Center Newark, NJ	America East TV	W 3–0 (25–20, 25–18, 25–21)	0	14–2 (11–1)
3/26 4 p.m.	Sacred Heart*	#8	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–13, 25–20, 25–18)	164	15–2 (12–1)
3/27 2 p.m.	Sacred Heart*	#8	Rec Hall University Park, PA	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–12, 25–17, 25–18)	110	16–2 (13–1)
4/2 7 p.m.	#15 George Mason*	#8	Recreation Athletic Complex Fairfax, VA	ESPN+	W 3–0 (25–19, 27–25, 25–16)	224	17–2 (14–1)
4/3 7 p.m.	#15 George Mason*	#8	Recreation Athletic Complex Fairfax, VA	ESPN+	L 2–3 (20–25, 25–12, 19–25, 25–23, 11–15)	250	17–3 (14–2)
4/9 7 p.m.	Charleston (WV)*	#8	The Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center Charleston, WV	Mountain East Network	W 3–0 (25–12, 25–16, 25–15)	1	18–3 (15–2)
4/10 7 p.m.	Charleston (WV)*	#8	The Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center Charleston, WV	Mountain East Network	W 3–0 (25–11, 25–6, 25–20) [3] [4] [5]	0	19–3 (16–2)
4/22 7:30 p.m.	St. Francis*	#8	Rec Hall University Park, PA (EIVA Semifinal)	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–16, 25–22, 25–20) [6]	340	20–3
4/20 7 p.m.	#13 George Mason*	#8	Rec Hall University Park, PA (EIVA Championship)	B1G+	W 3–1 (25–20, 25–20, 30–32, 25–20)	286	21–3
5/3 5 p.m.	Belmont Abbey	#8	Covelli Center Columbus, OH (NCAA 1st Round)	B1G+	W 3–0 (25–22, 25–13, 25–19)	223	22–3
5/4 8 p.m.	#3 Lewis	#8	Covelli Center Columbus, OH (NCAA Quarterfinal)	B1G+	L 0–3 (23–25, 25–27, 20–25)	144	22–4

*-Indicates conference match.

Times listed are Eastern Time Zone.

Broadcasters

• Ohio State: No commentary
• Ohio State: No commentary
• Ohio State: Christopher Hess & Connor Griffin
• Ohio State: Christopher Hess & Jack McHugh
• St. Francis: Preston Shoemaker & Zach Donaldson
• St. Francis: Josh Starr & Andrew Destin
• NJIT: No commentary
• NJIT: Joe Skinner & DJ Bauer
• Sacred Heart: Corey Picard & Melissa Batie-Smoose
• Sacred Heart: Brendan Picozzi & Melissa Batie-Smoose
• George Mason: Jake Starr & Zech Lambert
• George Mason: David Hadar & Trevor Grady
• Charleston (WV): No commentary
• Charleston (WV): Joe Skinner & Matt McLaughlin
• NJIT: Ira Thor
• NJIT: Ira Thor
• Sacred Heart: Andrew Destin & Logan Bourandas
• Sacred Heart: David Hadar & Matt Scalzo
• George Mason: Brian McSweeney & Aylene Ilkson
• George Mason: Brian McSweeney & Valerie Preactor
• Charleston (WV): Jack Rivers
• Charleston (WV): Jack Rivers
• St. Francis: David Hadar & Jon Draeger
• George Mason: Preston Shoemaker & Logan Bourandas
• Belmont Abbey: Luke Wood Maloney & Ben Spurlock
• Lewis: Luke Wood Maloney & Ben Spurlock

Honors

To be filled in upon completion of the season.

References

1. "Penn State selected as favorite to win 2021 EIVA championship". Off the Block. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
2. "2021 Men's Volleyball Roster". gopsusports.com.com.
3. "NCAA men's volleyball: Penn State clinches EIVA, BYU does the same in MPSF". Volleyball Mag. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
4. "Penn State Men's Volleyball secures regular season crown, Downs Charleston". Daily Collegian . Retrieved April 10, 2021.
5. "Audio: Penn State coach reacts to winning EIVA regular season title". Off the Block. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
6. "Time off hardly holds up Penn State men's volleyball in sweep, moves onto EIVA Tournament Final". Daily Collegian . Retrieved April 23, 2021.