Penn State men's volleyball gets set for California swing

As spring break approaches for college students across the country, many are making plans to spend their week off from school at exotic locations, whether it be in the United States or abroad.

Enter the No. 9 Penn State men’s volleyball team, which is getting set to head out on a trip of its own.

The Mamas & the Papas once sang a song about California dreamin’, and that’s exactly what the Nittany Lions are hoping to do over their four-match, eight-day stretch in the Golden State.

The swing starts with a big-time matchup between Penn State and No. 2 Long Beach State in Long Beach on March 1.

The Nittany Lions then head to Northridge to take on No. 16 CSUN on March 5. Penn State will finish at the PAC-12/Big Ten Challenge in Los Angeles, with matches against No. 11 USC on March 6 and a rematch with No. 4 UCLA on March 8.

The stretch provides a great opportunity for head coach Mark Pavlik to get a look at where his team stands against some of the best in the country. After all, if the Nittany Lions end up getting to where they ultimately want to go, they’ll likely have to see at least one of these teams again in May.

Despite a ranked win over Lewis last weekend, Long Beach State fell to No. 2 in the AVCA Coaches Poll after previously being ranked at No. 1.

Although the two teams play across the country from each other, Penn State and Long Beach State are no strangers when it comes to men’s volleyball. Last year’s matchup in Rec Hall between the two teams was a 3-1 victory in favor of the Beach.

Middle blocker Simon Torwie picked up Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors following a great performance in the team’s win over Lewis. However, Torwie figures to have his hands full with Toby Ezeonu and the talented Penn State block, in what should be one of the key individual matchups inside the Walter Pyramid on Friday night.

CSUN’s matchup against Penn State will be the last of a seven-game home stand in Northridge for the Matadors. During that stretch, CSUN has gone 2-3 with a matchup against Charleston still pending before Penn State comes to town next Tuesday.

Through 15 matches this season, Kyle Hobus paces the Matadors’ offensive attack with an average of 3.55 kills per set.

Penn State starts the PAC-12/Big Ten Challenge with a matchup against the USC Trojans, who will be continuing a gauntlet in their stretch of the schedule.

USC is coming off two losses to Grand Canyon – the nation’s new No. 1 team – and will have a doubleheader with No. 4 UCLA this weekend before squaring off with Penn State. USC finishes the PAC-12/Big Ten Challenge on March 8 playing against No. 7 Ohio State.

Dillon Klein paces the USC offense with an average of 3.56 kills per set so far this season.

The defending champion UCLA Bruins faced off with Penn State earlier in the campaign at the First Point Collegiate Challenge in Austin. The Bruins picked up a three-set sweep that night, bolstered by a .354 hitting percentage in the match as well as five service aces. Alex Knight led the way for the Bruins with nine kills back in January.

But both teams have gone through their fair share of growth and development since that first matchup. After losing to both Stanford and UCLA in that First Point Collegiate Challenge near the beginning of the season, Penn State has worked to find its identity and rhythm, making a change at the setter position and winning each of its last five matches.

Still, only time will tell if the Nittany Lions’ trip to California becomes a dream or a nightmare.

Kasey Kreider is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email kmk6865@psu.edu.