Follow
Consider tonight a small sampling of the postseason.
With most conference tournament quarterfinals matches scheduled for Saturday, Loyola and Quincy will open the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals in tonight’s only postseason match. In addition, Penn State looks to close out its regular season by capturing an out-right EIVA regular season title.
Check out the conference tournament matches and top regular season matches from around the nation to follow tonight.
MIVA TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS
No. 2 seed Loyola (19-9, 10-4 MIVA) vs. No. 7 seed Quincy (10-20, 1-13 MIVA)
Match vials: 7 p.m. in Chicago
Season series: Loyola leads 2-0 (won in three games in February and four games in March)
Last MIVA Tournament title: Loyola (never); Quincy (never)
Follow live: Gametracker, In-match Tweets
What to know: Quincy busted brackets two years ago when it pulled an upset in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals, but it will have an even more daunting task this year trying to beat Loyola. The Ramblers have advanced beyond the quarterfinals the last 13 years and are 35-4 all-time against the Hawks, including two wins during the regular season. In addition, Loyola outside attacker Joseph Smalzer on Wednesday was named the MIVA Player of the Year after leading the conference with 3.81 kills per game. Smalzer, who had a nation-best 61 aces, was also selected earlier this week as a finalist for Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Server of the Year. If Quincy can upset Loyola, it would be the team’s second postseason victory in program history.
EIVA REGULAR SEASON MATCHES
Rutgers-Newark (4-19, 0-2 EIVA) vs. Penn State (19-7, 11-1 EIVA)
Match vitals: 5:30 p.m. in University Park, Pa.
Follow live: Gametracker, In-match Tweets
What to know: Penn State can clinch its 15th consecutive out-right EIVA regular season title tonight if it defeats last-place Rutgers-Newark. The Nittany Lions close out its conference season this weekend at home having already clinched the No. 1 seed and home court advantage throughout the upcoming EIVA Tournament. In addition, Penn State on Friday afternoon had five players selected to the all-conference team — including outside attacker Aaron Russell who was named the Co-EIVA Player of the Year. Rutgers-Newark, which is in the process of transitioning down to Division III, is the only team in the nation winless in conference play this season. The Scarlet Raiders are also trying to avoid their first winless conference season in progream history.
If Quincy wins, heads from the Loyola coaching staff should roll.