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Multiple streaks will be on the line and rivalries will be renewed
tonight.
No. 1 BYU and No. 6 UCLA first meeting since their controversial match last season highlights tonight’s matches. In addition, No. 4 Penn State and No. 9 Ohio State will renew their rivalry with both teams looking to add another signature non-conference victory to their resume.
Check out the top five men’s volleyball matches from around the nation to follow tonight.
1. No. 2 BYU (7-2, 6-1 MPSF) vs. No. 6 UCLA (8-6, 4-4 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Provo, Utah
Follow live: Live stats, In-match Tweets
What to know: BYU and UCLA will play each other for the first time since the severgate controversy. In a late season conference match last year, the Cougars initial defeated the Bruins in a fifth-game overtime on a match-winning ace that appeared to land just inside the back line. However after 15 minutes of arguing from UCLA players and coaches, the officials opted to replay the point, and UCLA eventually won the fifth-game overtime. The controversial play became an instant topic on social media with the Twitter hashtag #servegate being created to describe the play and at one point UCLA coach Al Scates was a trending Twitter topic in Provo, Utah. The controversy became even more infamous the following day when the conference office overturned the overturned call and ordered that the match be replayed starting at 15-15 in the fifth game. BYU at the reset got back-to-back points to win the match, but tensions between the two teams remained at a near all-time high. In addition, BYU coach Chris McGown days after the match called UCLA and then-head coach Al Scates’ actions unethical.Both teams have new starting lineups since that match, but there may still be some leftover tense from that match last season in this servegate sequel.
2. No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 3-0 EIVA) vs. No. 9 Ohio State (7-2, 2-0 MIVA)
Match vitals: 8 p.m. in University Park, Pa.
Follow live: Gametracker, Pay-per-view online video, In-match Tweets
What to know: The two men’s volleyball Big Ten brothers will clash as Penn State and Ohio State renew their non-conference rivalry. The Nittany Lions are the nation’s longest active winning streak with nine consecutive victories. Setter Taylor Hammond also leads the EIVA with a 10.53 assists per game average, and the Nittany Lions hit .379 against Mount Olive last week — Penn State’s second highest attack percentage this season. Ohio State is on a five-match winning streak, including a four-game victory against George Mason on Saturday. This will be the second meeting between the two teams this year. Middle attacker Aaron Russell had a match-high 13 kills to help Penn State sweep Ohio State at the Outrigger Invitational in January.
3. No. 1 UC Irvine (9-3, 6-3 MPSF) vs. Pacific (5-3, 3-3 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7:30 p.m. in Stockton, Calif.
Follow live: Live stats, Online video, Radio feed, In-match Tweets
What to know: Pacific will attempt to get its first victory against UC Irvine in six years, but in order to do that the Tigers will likely have to slow down Anteaters outside attacker Kevin Tillie. The All-American senior has 91 combined kills during UC Irvine’s current five-match winning streak, including a team-high 18 kills in its four-game victory against No. 5 Stanford on Friday. The Tigers are on an 11-match losing streak against the Anteaters dating back to 2006. In addition, Pacific during that streak has won three games. The Tigers, though, have won their last two matches and have at least 12 blocks in four of their last five matches.
4. No. 5 Stanford (7-4, 4-4 MPSF) vs. UC San Diego (4-9, 2-7 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Palo Alto, Calif.
Follow live: Gametracker, Online video, Radio feed, In-match Tweets
What to know: Two teams that lost conference matches Friday will look to bounce back with a victory as Stanford plays host to UC San Diego. Stanford lost at home to UC Irvine on Friday for its second consecutive loss, while UC San Diego lost a road match against Pacific. Despite the Cardinal loss, outside attacker Steven Irvin had a match-high 21 kills. This was the third consecutive match that Irvin had at least 20 kills. UC San Diego outside attacker Cheyne Hayes in the loss to Pacific finished with a career-high 15 kills.
5. Ball State (7-0, 2-0 MIVA) vs. Grand Canyon (4-5, 0-2 MIVA)
Match vitals: Noon in Muncie, Ind.
Follow live: Live stats, Online video, Radio feed, In-match Tweets
What to know: Ball State will try to remain the only undefeated team left in the nation as it opens a two-match conference series against Grand Canyon. Despite being the undefeated, Ball State has yet to receive any votes in the national coaches poll largely because of its strength of schedule. In addition, Ball State coach and AVCA coaches poll voter Joel Walton said to The Ball State Daily News earlier this week that he didn’t even vote for his own team in this week’s poll because it doesn’t have a marquee victory. Grand Canyon opened conference play last weekend with two home losses to the defending-MIVA champions Lewis, including blowing a two-game lead in the series finale. This will also be the first meeting between the two teams since Ball State on the road defeated Grand Canyon in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals last season.