Friday, February 7
Princeton, N.J.
7 p.m.
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Princeton
Photo by: Lucas Carter
Mastodons Begin Road Stretch at Princeton, George Mason
2/6/2014 2:00:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
MATCH NOTES (.pdf)
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IPFW men's volleyball team will play five of their next six matches on the road beginning with trips to non-conference foes Princeton and George Mason this weekend.
Opponent: Princeton Tigers (0-2)
When: Friday, February 7, 2014 | 7 p.m. EST
Where: Princeton, N.J. | Dillon Gym (1,500)
All-Time Series: Friday's match marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams
Live Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
Opponent: George Mason Patriots (4-2)
When: Saturday, February 8, 2014 | 7 p.m. EST
Where: Fairfax, Va. | Recreation and Athletic Complex (1,550)
All-Time Series: George Mason leads 23-22
Last Meeting: IPFW 3, George Mason 2 | Mar. 14, 2013 | Long Beach, Calif.
Live Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
QUICK HITTERS
- After spending the first four weeks of the season ranked in the AVCA Top 15 Poll, the Mastodons fell out of the rankings in the Week #5 edition following the team's five-set loss to Ball State on Friday, January 31.
- After hitting a season-low .131 in the loss to Ball State, IPFW, who entered that match leading the MIVA in hitting percentage (.364), dropped to fourth in the conference at .289.
- The Mastodons have two of the league's top four hitters in Ramon Burgos (.393) and Bryan Saunders (.373).
- Princeton is 9-1 in their last 10 home openers
- The Tigers returns six of seven starters from last season, including two First-Team All-EIVA selections
- Princeton leads the EIVA with 13.38 kills per set
- George Mason ranks second in the EIVA with 4.02 blocks per set
- The Patriots lost six All-EIVA performers from a year ago
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Princeton enters the contest with an 0-2 record, falling on the road to Cal-Baptist and Concordia to begin their season. Coach Sam Shweisky and his squad will open up the home portion of their schedule when they welcome the Mastodons to town on Friday night.
The Tigers return two First Team All-EIVA selections from a year ago in Cody Kessel and Pat Schwagler. Schwagler leads the team with 29 kills – averaging 3.62 kills per set – and seven aces while Kessel ranks third with 17 kills. Devin Stearns comes in with 26 kills, averaging 3.25 per set, and is attacking at a conference-best .420 clip.
Schwagler and Kessel are a force on the defensive end as well with 10 blocks apiece. Middle blocker Junior Oboh is the team leader in blocks though with 11. Libero Tony Ensbury paces the squad with 23 digs and is the EIVA leader with 2.88 digs per set.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
George Mason will enter their weekend matches as one of the hottest teams in the EIVA riding a four-match win streak. After starting the season 0-2, the Patriots responded with four consecutive wins, including three straight at home. The Patriots continue their five-match home stand on Friday against Ball State before hosting the 'Dons on Saturday.
In 2013, George Mason went 15-12 overall and 11-3 in the EIVA, but lost six players that earned All-EIVA honors, including the Co-Player of the Year.
Jack Wilson paces the team with 70 kills and Radoslav Popov follows with 59. Pete Cuppernull is one of the league's top setter averaging 9.69 assists per set.
Defensively, Hunter Stevens leads the way with his league-leading 1.57 blocks per set. The 6-8 middle blocker has registered 36 total blocks this season.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday's match marks the first-ever meeting between IPFW and Princeton.
George Mason holds a slim 23-22 advantage in the all-time series. IPFW has won three of the last five meetings, including an upset of the 15th ranked Patriots last season in Long Beach, Calif. However, the Mastodons are 1-8 in away matches against George Mason.
LAST TIME OUT
The 14th ranked IPFW men's volleyball team fell in a thrilling five-set match (25-18, 21-25, 24-26, 27-25, 10-15) to conference rival Ball State on Friday night in front of a packed Gates Sports Center to open MIVA action.
Four Mastodons registered double-doubles, including Omar Rivera who finished with 47 assists, 12 digs, and a career-high six kills. Eddie Rivera and Andrew Sellan had 13 kills apiece as well as 12 and 10 digs, respectively while Elon Fyfield recorded 11 kills and 13 digs.
IPFW, who entered the match leading the country in hitting percentage, operated at a season-low .131 clip. Bryan Saunders and Burgos added eight kills apiece for the 'Dons while Luis Bertran scooped up a career-best 16 digs.
CLIMBING THE CAREER LADDER
Omar Rivera, who ranks second in the MIVA in assists per set with 10.89, continues his ascent in the IPFW record books. The junior setter ranks 8th on the all-time list with 2,024 assists.
TOUGH COMPETITION
The 2014 schedule features two of the four NCAA Final Four teams from last season, Loyola and Penn State. Four MIVA teams also appeared in the AVCA Week #5 Top 15 Poll. Loyola (Ill.) came in at No. 2 followed by Lewis at No. 10 while Ohio St. and Ball State rounded out the pack at No. 14 and No. 15.
ROAD WARRIORS
In addition to the tough competition IPFW will face in 2014, the Mastodons will be on the road for the majority of the first half of the season. Nine of the team's first 12 matches will be away from the Gates Sports Center.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IPFW men's volleyball team will play five of their next six matches on the road beginning with trips to non-conference foes Princeton and George Mason this weekend.
Opponent: Princeton Tigers (0-2)
When: Friday, February 7, 2014 | 7 p.m. EST
Where: Princeton, N.J. | Dillon Gym (1,500)
All-Time Series: Friday's match marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams
Live Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
Opponent: George Mason Patriots (4-2)
When: Saturday, February 8, 2014 | 7 p.m. EST
Where: Fairfax, Va. | Recreation and Athletic Complex (1,550)
All-Time Series: George Mason leads 23-22
Last Meeting: IPFW 3, George Mason 2 | Mar. 14, 2013 | Long Beach, Calif.
Live Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video
QUICK HITTERS
- After spending the first four weeks of the season ranked in the AVCA Top 15 Poll, the Mastodons fell out of the rankings in the Week #5 edition following the team's five-set loss to Ball State on Friday, January 31.
- After hitting a season-low .131 in the loss to Ball State, IPFW, who entered that match leading the MIVA in hitting percentage (.364), dropped to fourth in the conference at .289.
- The Mastodons have two of the league's top four hitters in Ramon Burgos (.393) and Bryan Saunders (.373).
- Princeton is 9-1 in their last 10 home openers
- The Tigers returns six of seven starters from last season, including two First-Team All-EIVA selections
- Princeton leads the EIVA with 13.38 kills per set
- George Mason ranks second in the EIVA with 4.02 blocks per set
- The Patriots lost six All-EIVA performers from a year ago
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Princeton enters the contest with an 0-2 record, falling on the road to Cal-Baptist and Concordia to begin their season. Coach Sam Shweisky and his squad will open up the home portion of their schedule when they welcome the Mastodons to town on Friday night.
The Tigers return two First Team All-EIVA selections from a year ago in Cody Kessel and Pat Schwagler. Schwagler leads the team with 29 kills – averaging 3.62 kills per set – and seven aces while Kessel ranks third with 17 kills. Devin Stearns comes in with 26 kills, averaging 3.25 per set, and is attacking at a conference-best .420 clip.
Schwagler and Kessel are a force on the defensive end as well with 10 blocks apiece. Middle blocker Junior Oboh is the team leader in blocks though with 11. Libero Tony Ensbury paces the squad with 23 digs and is the EIVA leader with 2.88 digs per set.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
George Mason will enter their weekend matches as one of the hottest teams in the EIVA riding a four-match win streak. After starting the season 0-2, the Patriots responded with four consecutive wins, including three straight at home. The Patriots continue their five-match home stand on Friday against Ball State before hosting the 'Dons on Saturday.
In 2013, George Mason went 15-12 overall and 11-3 in the EIVA, but lost six players that earned All-EIVA honors, including the Co-Player of the Year.
Jack Wilson paces the team with 70 kills and Radoslav Popov follows with 59. Pete Cuppernull is one of the league's top setter averaging 9.69 assists per set.
Defensively, Hunter Stevens leads the way with his league-leading 1.57 blocks per set. The 6-8 middle blocker has registered 36 total blocks this season.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday's match marks the first-ever meeting between IPFW and Princeton.
George Mason holds a slim 23-22 advantage in the all-time series. IPFW has won three of the last five meetings, including an upset of the 15th ranked Patriots last season in Long Beach, Calif. However, the Mastodons are 1-8 in away matches against George Mason.
LAST TIME OUT
The 14th ranked IPFW men's volleyball team fell in a thrilling five-set match (25-18, 21-25, 24-26, 27-25, 10-15) to conference rival Ball State on Friday night in front of a packed Gates Sports Center to open MIVA action.
Four Mastodons registered double-doubles, including Omar Rivera who finished with 47 assists, 12 digs, and a career-high six kills. Eddie Rivera and Andrew Sellan had 13 kills apiece as well as 12 and 10 digs, respectively while Elon Fyfield recorded 11 kills and 13 digs.
IPFW, who entered the match leading the country in hitting percentage, operated at a season-low .131 clip. Bryan Saunders and Burgos added eight kills apiece for the 'Dons while Luis Bertran scooped up a career-best 16 digs.
CLIMBING THE CAREER LADDER
Omar Rivera, who ranks second in the MIVA in assists per set with 10.89, continues his ascent in the IPFW record books. The junior setter ranks 8th on the all-time list with 2,024 assists.
TOUGH COMPETITION
The 2014 schedule features two of the four NCAA Final Four teams from last season, Loyola and Penn State. Four MIVA teams also appeared in the AVCA Week #5 Top 15 Poll. Loyola (Ill.) came in at No. 2 followed by Lewis at No. 10 while Ohio St. and Ball State rounded out the pack at No. 14 and No. 15.
ROAD WARRIORS
In addition to the tough competition IPFW will face in 2014, the Mastodons will be on the road for the majority of the first half of the season. Nine of the team's first 12 matches will be away from the Gates Sports Center.
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