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Penn State may be the preseason overwhelming favorite to win the EIVA, but there is still plenty of intrigue with the conference entering the season.
Off the Block editor Vinnie Lopes breaks down the EIVA and what to know about each team entering the 2022 season.
Penn State
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: No. 5
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 1
2021 record: 22-4 (16-2 EIVA)
2021 postseason finish: Won EIVA championship and lost in NCAA Tournament opening round
Notable starters lost: None
Notable returners/additions: setter Cole Bogner (Preseason All-American, EIVA Player of the Year, Second-Team All-American, First-Team All-EIVA), opposite Cal Fisher (Preseason All-American, National Server of the Year, Second-Team All-American, First-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker Brett Wildman (Preseason All-American, Second-Team All-American, First-Team All-EIVA); libero Will Bantle (First-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker Michael Valenzi (EIVA Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-EIVA); middle attacker Sam Marsh (All-EIVA Honorable Mention); middle attacker Toby Ezeeonu; middle attacker Canyon Tuman
OTB bold predictions: Penn State is loaded but will not go undefeated in conference play during the regular season. However, still expect the Nittany Lions to win the EIVA regular season title and earn the right to host the conference tournament. — Vinnie Lopes
NJIT
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: No. 15
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 2
2021 record: 13-6 (13-3 EIVA)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in EIVA Tournament semifinals
Notable starters lost: outside attacker Alvaro Gimeno (Second-Team All-American, First-Team All-EIVA); middle attacker Luca Berger (First-Team All-EIVA)
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Julian Meissner (First-Team All-EIVA); middle attacker Martin de Chavarria (Second-Team All-EIVA); libero Joe Kennedy (Second-Team All-EIVA); setter Roque Nido (2020 Second-Team All-EIVA); setter Griffin Fieseler (All-EIVA Honorable Mention); outside attacker Jens Feldthus
OTB bold predictions: NJIT may have a couple of losses in the first two weeks of the season. By the end of the regular season, though, the Highlanders will have at least one win against a Big West school and a bye to the EIVA Tournament semifinals. — Vinnie Lopes
George Mason
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: No. 15
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 3
2021 record: 15-7 (11-5 EIVA)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in EIVA Tournament finals
Notable starters lost: opposite Hayden Wagner (Second-Team All-EIVA); middle attacker Brad Creamer (Second-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker Sam Greenslade (Second-Team All-EIVA); middle attacker Jack Reese (Second-Team All-EIVA)
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Omar Hoyos (Puerto Rico Men’s Junior National Team member); setter Zach Talamoa (All-EIVA Honorable Mention); libero Trevor Kennan; outside attacker Richie Hoff
OTB bold predictions: Outside attacker Omar Hoyos will be one of the breakout players in the EIVA this year and will have multiple matches with at least 20 kills. — Vinnie Lopes
Princeton
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 4
2021 record: 0-0 (opted out of season)
2021 postseason finish: Opted out of season
Notable starters lost since 2020: opposite/middle attacker George Huhmann (2019 EIVA Payer of the Year); outside attacker Greg Luck (2019 Second-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker Parker Dixon (2020 Second-Team All-EIVA)
Notable returners/additions: setter Joe Kelly (2020 Second-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker Jerod Nelsen (2020 Second-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker James Hartley (former U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team member)
OTB bold predictions: Eight of Princeotn’s final nine matches this season are at home. The Tigers will win at least six of those home matches. — Vinnie Lopes
Saint Francis
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 5
2021 record: 8-19 (6-12 EIVA)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in EIVA Tournament semifinals
Notable starters lost: outside attacker Michael Fisher (First-Team All-EIVA)
Notable returners/additions: middle attacker Joshua Blair (First-Team All-EIVA); middle attacker Thomas Leahey (All-EIVA Honorable Mention); libero Matthew Menosky; setter AJ Schmidt; outside attacker Blake Liprando
OTB bold predictions: This will be the last time for a couple years that Saint Francis is not hoisting a conference championship trophy at the end of the season. — Vinnie Lopes
Harvard
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 6
2021 record: 0-0 (opted out of season)
2021 postseason finish: Opted out of season
Notable starters lost since 2020: setter Matthew Ctvrtlik (2020 First-Team All-EIVA)
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Campbell Schoenfeld (2020 Second-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker Eric Li
OTB bold predictions: Outside attacker Campbell Schoenfeld will enter the final weeks of the regular season with a chance to finish averaging more than 4.00 kills per game. — Vinnie Lopes
Charleston
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 7
2021 record: 4-13 (4-12 EIVA)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in EIVA Tournament quarterfinals
Notable starters lost: outside attacker Blake Bartles (Second-Team All-EIVA); libero Sean Drexel; outside attacker Maarten Bartels; opposite Ian Barker
Notable returners/additions: setter Diego Villafane (First-Team All-EIVA); middle attacker Ismael Sneed (Second-Team All-EIVA); outside attacker Lachlan Bray; libero Curtis Raines
OTB bold predictions: The last time Lachlan Bray was on the court for Charleston the outside attacker had 20 kills on a .417 attack percentage in a loss to George Mason. That match was almost two years ago, but it could be a precursor of things to come in 2022. — Vinnie Lopes
St. Francis Brooklyn
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 8
2021 record: 3-3 (competed as independent)
2021 postseason finish: Did not participate
Notable starters lost: setter Andrew Piloto; opposite Christian Prayer
Notable returners/additions: middle attacker James Henneberry (2020 All-Independent Team); outside attacker David Vorfi; outside attacker Aramis Rodriguez; libero Dominick Pikura
OTB bold predictions: When people look back 20, 30 or even 50 years from now, 2022 will go down as St. Francis Brooklyn’s most successful season as an EIVA member. — Vinnie Lopes
Sacred Heart
Preseason national coaches poll ranking: Unranked
Preseason EIVA poll ranking: No. 9
2021 record: 1-16 (0-16 EIVA)
2021 postseason finish: Lost in EIVA Tournament quarterfinals
Notable starters lost: libero Timothy McIntosh (All-EIVA Honorable Mention); outside attacker Shawn Tischler; outside attacker Nicholas Palluzzi
Notable returners/additions: outside attacker Ife Loverton; middle attacker Aaron Peterson; outside attacker Mark Berry; outside attacker Patrick Mucherino
OTB bold predictions: If all matches are played, Sacred Heart will have a winning record in early February. — Vinnie Lopes