Penn State men’s volleyball improved to 10-0 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association with a 3-2 victory over Sacred Heart on April 11 at the William H. Pitt Center.
The win keeps Penn State at the top of the conference standings and extends their overall record to 18-7, marking their seventh consecutive victory. The result is significant as it puts Penn State two matches ahead of George Mason with only two regular season games remaining, both against George Mason. A single win in these upcoming matches would secure Penn State the regular season title and hosting rights for the EIVA Tournament.
Tristan Hassell played a key role after being subbed in for the final four sets, achieving a career-high with 19 kills and seven blocks. He shared top honors in kills with Sean Harvey, who also tallied 19 kills along with two blocks and one ace. Bennett Wilson contributed a personal best of ten kills and nine digs, narrowly missing out on a double-double performance.
Defensively, Owen Rose led with seven blocks while Gaige Gabriel added six. Jaxon Herr and Ryan Merk supported with six and four digs respectively. For Sacred Heart, Aleksa Mandic was notable for his all-around effort that included fifteen kills.
Historically, Penn State has dominated this matchup, now holding a record of twenty-seven wins to two losses against Sacred Heart and extending its winning streak over them to fifteen straight matches.
Looking ahead, Penn State will host George Mason for back-to-back games on April 17-18 at Rec Hall as they aim to clinch the conference’s regular season crown.
