UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State is set to play in the EIVA Tournament at a site other than Rec Hall for the first time since 2019 when it takes on Harvard in the first round Wednesday at Princeton’s Dillon Gymnasium. The Nittany Lions enter the six-team event as the three seed, while the Crimson are the six seed. The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+
The winner between Penn State and Harvard moves on to play second-seeded NJIT in the semifinal round on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Wednesday, April 23 – 7:30 p.m.
Penn State (11-15, 8-4 EIVA) vs. Harvard (9-14, 5-7 EIVA) | Live Stats | Watch
EIVA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• Penn State has won 36 EIVA Tournament titles. George Mason is second among active league members with four tournament titles.
• Penn State is the two-time defending EIVA Tournament champion.
• Five current players -- Carter Dittman, Will Kuhns, Ryan Merk, Owen Rose, Michael Schwob -- played in the 2024 EIVA Championship match. Just three current players -- Kuhns, Merk, Rose -- played in the 2023 EIVA Championship match.
SERIES HISTORY
• Penn State and Harvard will meet for the 32nd time overall and the sixth time in the EIVA Tournament.
• The Nittany Lions are 27-4 in the all-time series with the Crimson. The teams split their two matches at Harvard earlier this season.
• Penn State is 4-1 against Harvard in the EIVA Tournament. The Nittany Lions won in the quarterfinal round in 2000, the quarterfinal round in 2005, the championship match in 2013, and the semifinal round in 2024. The Crimson’s lone win came in the semifinal round in 2018.
• Owen Rose has hit .395 while averaging 1.65 kills/set and 1.04 blocks/set in seven career matches against Harvard.
SCOUTING HARVARD
• Harvard is 9-14 overall and finished sixth in the EIVA at 5-7. The Crimson enter the postseason with a four-match losing streak, falling to No. 19 Princeton (3-0), No. 19 Princeton (3-2), NJIT (3-0), and NJIT (3-1).
• Senior setter James Bardin and senior outside hitter Logan Shepherd were second-team All-EIVA selections. Junior outside hitter Zach Berty and sophomore middle blocker Owen Woolbert were honorable mentions.
• The Crimson rank first in the EIVA in aces/set (1.52).
LAST MATCH AGAINST HARVARD
• Will Kuhns hit .321 with 16 kills, six digs, and two blocks as Penn State swept Harvard 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-21) on Feb. 8 of this season. Owen Rose had eight blocks while helping hold the Crimson to .233 hitting.
• Sawyer Nichols paced Harvard in a losing effort, hitting .333 with 12 kills, three digs, and one ace. Owen Woolbert hit .500 with eight kills.
• The Crimson had just two blocks in the match.
CAREER HIGHS SET LAST WEEKEND
vs. Princeton (4/18)
• Matthew Luoma - blocks (6)
vs. Princeton (4/19)
• Carter Dittman - blocks (3)
• Nate Egerstrom - kills (1)
• Blainey Jones - kills (1)
• Miller Trubey - kills (15)
STREAKS TO WATCH
Ryan Merk
• 87 straight starts at libero
Michael Schwob
• 2 straight matches with exactly three aces
UP NEXT
• The winner of Wednesday's match plays second-seeded NJIT in the semifinal round on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.