Mastodons Host Saint Francis (Pa.) and Penn State in Home Openers

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Fort Wayne men's volleyball team is set to square off against Saint Francis (Pa.) and No. 14 Penn State on Friday and Saturday for its first home matches of the season at Arnie Ball Court.

Scouting the Mastodons (0-4)
Coach: Ryan "Rock" Perrotte | Second Season (10-23)
Kills: 144 | Pelegrin Vargas (42)
Assists: 135 | Michael Keegan (106)
Digs: 97 | Jack Carlson (28)
Blocks: 23.0 | Graydon Schroeder (9.0)
Aces: 6 | Colton Stone, Pelegrin Vargas (2)
Attack %: .141 | Tony Price (.357)

Who: Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash
When: Friday, January 13 | 7 p.m.
Where: Arnie Ball Court | Fort Wayne, Ind.
All-Time Series: Fort Wayne leads 12-5
Last Meeting: January 22, 2016 | Loretto, Pa. | Fort Wayne 0, Saint Francis 3 (25-20, 25-20, 25-20)
Live Stats: Fort Wayne Live Stats
Live Video: Fort Wayne Live Video $
Live Audio: Fort Wayne Live Audio (Play-by-Play: Mike Maahs, Color: Clair Marshall)

Who: No. 14 Penn State Nittany Lions
When: Saturday, January 14 | 7 p.m.
Where: Arnie Ball Court | Fort Wayne, Ind.
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 43-15
Last Meeting: January 23, 2016 | University Park, Pa. | Fort Wayne 0, No. 10 Penn State 3 (28-26, 25-17, 25-15)
Live Stats: Fort Wayne Live Stats
Live Video: Fort Wayne Live Video $
Live Audio: Fort Wayne Live Audio (Play-by-Play: Mike Maahs)

Scouting the Red Flash (2-1)
Coach: Mike Rumbaugh
Kills: 149 | Jeff Hogan (47)
Assists: 137 | Daniel Ford (121)
Digs: 86 | Gabe Woffindin (26)
Blocks: 24.5 | Keith Kegerreis (13)
Aces: 15 | Daniel Ford (5)
Attack %: .333 | Daniel Ford (.471)

Scouting the Nittany Lions (1-1)
Coach: Mark Pavlik
Kills: 106 | Chris Nugent (32)
Assists: 103 | Luke Braswell (89)
Digs: 63 | Royce Clemens (22)
Blocks: 16.0 | Kevin Gear (6)
Aces: 8 | Luke Braswell (5)
Attack %: .279 | Matthew McLaren (1.000)

Tough Start
The 2017 schedule starts off with a stretch of five of Fort Wayne's first six opponents being ranked in the Preseason AVCA Top 15. The first contest of the year pitted the 'Dons against No. 8 UC Irvine, followed by No. 4 Long Beach State, No. 14 California State Northridge and No. 12 UC Santa Barbara in the UCSB ASICS Invitational. Fort Wayne returns home for matchups against Saint Francis (Pa.) and No. 14 Penn State. Saint Francis (Pa.) was the first team outside of the Top 15 receiving votes.

Off the Block
Graydon Schroeder is ranked third in the MIVA in blocks per set with 1.30. Schroeder had five blocks against No. 8 UC Irvine.

Setting the Pace
Michael Keegan is Fort Wayne's assist leader through four games with 66, averaging 7.33 per set. Keegan is ranked eighth in the MIVA in assists and eighth in assists per set.

Freshmen Killin' It
Freshman Pelegrin Vargas is starting off his freshman campaign with Fort Wayne on a strong note. He is the Mastodons' kill leader, totaling 42 through four matches. Vargas had a career-high 15 kills against CSUN at the UCSB ASICS Invitational. Fellow freshman Richie Diedrich has 24 kills, while also chipping in eight blocks, good for second best on the Mastodon squad.

Ranked Penn State
Penn State has been ranked in the AVCA Top 15 every time that Fort Wayne has faced the Nittany Lions since 1986, and the 2017 season is no exception. Penn State comes into Fort Wayne at 14th, after starting the season ranked 13th.

Last Time Out
Fort Wayne traveled to Santa Barbara, Calif. to face off in the UCSB ASICS Invitational. The 'Dons fell to No. 4 Long Beach State 3-0, No. 14 CSUN 3-1 and No. 12 UC Santa Barbara 3-0.

Next Time Up
The Mastodons hit the road to face three opponents in four days. The 'Dons face off against Harvard, Sacred Heart and Alderson Broaddus on Thursday, Friday and Sunday (Jan. 19-22).

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Mastodons Host Saint Francis (Pa.) and Penn State in Home Openers

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Players Mentioned

Jack Carlson

Richie Diedrich

Michael Keegan

Tony Price

Graydon Schroeder

Colton Stone

Pelegrin Vargas

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics