Conference News
Penn State Claims 10th Consecutive EIVA Title,
Downing Mason 3-0
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State junior middle hitter
Max Holt jumped from his normal position in the front row, swung at
a perfect set from senior Luke Murray, and prepared to celebrate
another kill.
But a familiar face sent the ball screaming back to the Penn State
side - George Mason senior middle hitter R.J.
Goubeaux. With one thunderous stuff block - and
celebration - Goubeaux renewed a rivalry that may be one of the
best in the country.
"That's just two good players going at it. He's a good, good, good
player," Goubeaux said. "We've been playing each other for three
years, so there's always going to be something there."
The No. 1 Penn State men's volleyball team avenged their only loss
of the season - and Goubeaux's block - with a 3-0 (30-24, 33-31,
30-23) sweep of George Mason in the EIVA championship match on
Saturday night.
The win sends the Nittany Lions (28-1) to their 10th
consecutive NCAA final four and a possible date with Midwest
Intercollegiate Volleyball Association champ Ohio State in the
national semifinals.
"This was just a step we needed to take," Penn State outside hitter
Jay Stauffer said. "All year our goal has been to win a national
championship. This was just another step on the path. Now that we
are there we can concentrate on a championship 100 percent."
For the Patriots (20-8), they were dealt a blow before the match
began when their leading attacker, Hudson Bates, fell to floor
during warm-ups after injuring his right ankle. The senior was
visibly hampered by the injury and was nowhere near the explosive
hitter that he was during the regular season.
Bates ended the match with seven kills and 21 attacks in a gusty
effort.
"I don't think [the injury] changed the set selection all that
much," George Mason coach Fred Chao said. "That was a lot of work
on that ankle. He was not as high, not as fast so some of them
balls that could have been put away weren't."
Penn State, on the other hand, dealt with mental lapses from Holt,
who had a less than stellar game, and seemed more concerned with
avenging Goubeaux's block than staying within the offense. Holt
finished with only nine kills and four service errors.
Penn State coach Mark Pavlik said he was upset with Holt because he
didn't do the things the coaching staff wanted him to do.
"[Holt] can be a stubborn player," Penn State outside hitter Matt
Anderson said. "We all can be stubborn. But his stubborn ways have
made him play some great games, and a great season."
The difference in the match was the spectacular play of Lion libero
Dennis Del Valle in Game 3. The freshman electrified the crowd with
the ability to get to just about every attack sent his way from
Mason finishing with 10 digs. Del Valle's performance was
something neither Goubeaux nor any of his teammates could
counter.
"I just try to keep the team energized at all times," Del Valle
said. "This game was very similar to the games I played in Puerto
Rico with the crowd into it from both sides, and I usually go out
and do my best [in those games]."
EIVA Championship All-Tournament Team
Dennis Del Valle, Penn State
Kyle Gramit, George Mason
R.J. Goubeaux, George Mason
Max Holt, Penn State
Luke Murray, Penn State
Leonardo Paludo, NJIT
Most Outstanding Player: Matt Anderson, Penn
State