# 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball team

The 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I & II men's volleyball season. The Nittany Lions, led by 27th-year head coach Mark Pavlik, played their home games at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions were members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association and were picked to win the EIVA in the preseason poll. The Nittany Lions played mostly a conference schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After winning the EIVA regular season and conference tournament titles the Nittany Lions qualified for the NCAA Tournament. After winning the opening round match the Nittany Lions fell in the semifinals to Lewis.

## Schedule

| Date Time | Opponent | Rank | Arena City (Tournament) | Television | Score | Attendance | Record (EIVA Record) |
| 1/22 7 p.m. | @ #14 Ohio State | #11 | Covelli Center Columbus, OH | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–20, 25–23, 25–22) | 0 | 1–0 |
| 1/23 7 p.m. | @ #14 Ohio State | #11 | Covelli Center Columbus, OH | B1G+ | L 0–3 (22–25, 23–25, 17–25) | 0 | 1–1 |
| 1/29 7 p.m. | #13 Ohio State | #11 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–16, 25–17, 25–21) | 135 | 2–1 |
| 1/30 2:30 p.m. | #13 Ohio State | #11 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–17, 25–16, 25–19) | 134 | 3–1 |
| 2/4 8 p.m. | St. Francis* | #11 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–17, 25–16, 25–19) | 134 | 4–1 (1–0) |
| 2/6 1:30 p.m. | St. Francis* | #11 | Rec Hall University, Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–2 (25–27, 25–13, 23–25, 25–21, 16–14) | 141 | 5–1 (2–0) |
| 2/13 3 p.m. | NJIT* | #11 | Rec Hall South Gym University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–1 (25–17, 21–25, 25–17, 25–21) | 97 | 6–1 (3–0) |
| 2/14 3 p.m. | NJIT* | #11 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | L 0–3 (21–25, 22–25, 9–25) | 128 | 6–2 (3–1) |
| 2/20 7 p.m. | Sacred Heart* | #12 | William H. Pitt Center Fairfield, CT | NEC Front Row | W 3–0 (25–16, 25–14, 25–15) | 0 | 7–2 (4–1) |
| 2/21 1 p.m. | Sacred Heart* | #12 | William H. Pitt Center Fairfield, CT | NEC Front Row | W 3–1 (25–16, 25–17, 23–25, 25–19) | 0 | 8–2 (5–1) |
| 2/26 7 p.m. | #12 George Mason* | #10 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–1 (26–24, 25–20, 24–26, 25–16) | 153 | 9–2 (6–1) |
| 2/27 7 p.m. | #12 George Mason* | #10 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–19, 25–21, 25–16) | 163 | 10–2 (7–1) |
| 3/5 7 p.m. | Charleston (WV)* | #10 | Rec Hall South Gym University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–20, 25–14, 25–21) | 20 | 11–2 (8–1) |
| 3/6 7 p.m. | Charleston (WV)* | #10 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–16, 25–23, 25–23) | 133 | 12–2 (9–1) |
| 3/12 7 p.m. | St. Francis* | #9 | DeGol Arena Loretto, PA | NEC Front Row | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 3/13 7 p.m. | St. Francis* | #9 | DeGol Arena Loretto, PA | NEC Front Row | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 3/19 4 p.m. | #11 NJIT* | #9 | Wellness and Events Center Newark, NJ | America East TV | W 3–0 (33–31, 25–23, 25–21) | 0 | 13–2 (10–1) |
| 3/20 4 p.m. | #11 NJIT* | #9 | Wellness and Events Center Newark, NJ | America East TV | W 3–0 (25–20, 25–18, 25–21) | 0 | 14–2 (11–1) |
| 3/26 4 p.m. | Sacred Heart* | #8 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–13, 25–20, 25–18) | 164 | 15–2 (12–1) |
| 3/27 2 p.m. | Sacred Heart* | #8 | Rec Hall University Park, PA | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–12, 25–17, 25–18) | 110 | 16–2 (13–1) |
| 4/2 7 p.m. | #15 George Mason* | #8 | Recreation Athletic Complex Fairfax, VA | ESPN+ | W 3–0 (25–19, 27–25, 25–16) | 224 | 17–2 (14–1) |
| 4/3 7 p.m. | #15 George Mason* | #8 | Recreation Athletic Complex Fairfax, VA | ESPN+ | L 2–3 (20–25, 25–12, 19–25, 25–23, 11–15) | 250 | 17–3 (14–2) |
| 4/9 7 p.m. | Charleston (WV)* | #8 | The Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center Charleston, WV | Mountain East Network | W 3–0 (25–12, 25–16, 25–15) | 1 | 18–3 (15–2) |
| 4/10 7 p.m. | Charleston (WV)* | #8 | The Russell and Martha Wehrle Innovation Center Charleston, WV | Mountain East Network | W 3–0 (25–11, 25–6, 25–20) | 0 | 19–3 (16–2) |
| 4/22 7:30 p.m. | St. Francis* | #8 | Rec Hall University Park, PA (EIVA Semifinal) | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–16, 25–22, 25–20) | 340 | 20–3 |
| 4/20 7 p.m. | #13 George Mason* | #8 | Rec Hall University Park, PA (EIVA Championship) | B1G+ | W 3–1 (25–20, 25–20, 30–32, 25–20) | 286 | 21–3 |
| 5/3 5 p.m. | Belmont Abbey | #8 | Covelli Center Columbus, OH (NCAA 1st Round) | B1G+ | W 3–0 (25–22, 25–13, 25–19) | 223 | 22–3 |
| 5/4 8 p.m. | #3 Lewis | #8 | Covelli Center Columbus, OH (NCAA Quarterfinal) | B1G+ | L 0–3 (23–25, 25–27, 20–25) | 144 | 22–4 |
    *-Indicates conference match.
    Times listed are Eastern Time Zone.

## Broadcasters

* Ohio State: No commentary
* Ohio State: No commentary
* Ohio State: Christopher Hess & Connor Griffin
* Ohio State: Christopher Hess & Jack McHugh
* St. Francis: Preston Shoemaker & Zach Donaldson
* St. Francis: Josh Starr & Andrew Destin
* NJIT: No commentary
* NJIT: Joe Skinner & DJ Bauer
* Sacred Heart: Corey Picard & Melissa Batie-Smoose
* Sacred Heart: Brendan Picozzi & Melissa Batie-Smoose
* George Mason: Jake Starr & Zech Lambert
* George Mason: David Hadar & Trevor Grady
* Charleston (WV): No commentary
* Charleston (WV): Joe Skinner & Matt McLaughlin
* NJIT: Ira Thor
* NJIT: Ira Thor
* Sacred Heart: Andrew Destin & Logan Bourandas
* Sacred Heart: David Hadar & Matt Scalzo
* George Mason: Brian McSweeney & Aylene Ilkson
* George Mason: Brian McSweeney & Valerie Preactor
* Charleston (WV): Jack Rivers
* Charleston (WV): Jack Rivers
* St. Francis: David Hadar & Jon Draeger
* George Mason: Preston Shoemaker & Logan Bourandas
* Belmont Abbey: Luke Wood Maloney & Ben Spurlock
* Lewis: Luke Wood Maloney & Ben Spurlock

## Honors

To be filled in upon completion of the season.