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Three spots in the four-team NCAA Tournament will be set by the end of the night.
It’s Championship Saturday in college men’s volleyball as EIVA, MIVA and MPSF Tournament championship matches will be played tonight — and each match-up could get more intriguing as the night progresses.
Check out the conference tournament matches to follow tonight from around the nation.
EIVA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 seed Penn State (22-5, 14-0 EIVA) vs. No. 3 seed George Mason (13-16, 8-6 EIVA)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in University Park, Pa.
Follow live: Gametracker, Online video, In-match Tweets
What to know: The last team to defeat Penn State in conference play will attempt to put an end to the greatest dynasty in NCAA volleyball history. George Mason will look to pull off the upset against Penn State, which is one win away from winning a record 14 consecutive conference tournament championships. Penn State has won 59 consecutive EIVA matches since losing to George Mason in the 2008 regular season. In addition, no NCAA men’s volleyball team has ever won 60 conseuctive conference tournament matches. Penn State reached the championship match after sweeping the No. 4 seed Princeton in the semifinals, while the No. 3 seed George Mason upset the No. 2 seed Harvard in its semifinals match.
MIVA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 seed Ohio State (21-8, 9-3 MIVA) vs. No. 2 seed Lewis (25-6, 9-3 MIVA)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio
Follow live: Gametracker, Online video, In-match Tweets
What to know: History will be made tonight regardless if Ohio State or Lewis wins this conference championship match. The Buckeyes will play host to the Flyers with a chance to win their fifth consecutive MIVA Tournament championship — a feat that has not been accomplished since Ball State in the 1960s. Ohio State earlier this season already set the conference record winning its sixth consecutive MIVA regular season title. In addition, the Buckeyes at home are on a nine-match postseason winning streak and have not lost a tournament match in Columbus since the 2007 MIVA Tournament championship match against IFPW. Lewis is playing in its first MIVA Tournament championship match since receiving the men’s volleyball version of the NCAA death penalty in the summer of 2004 for using ineligible players. The Flyers have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2004 — the team’s only Final Four appearance that was not later vacated, including its 2003 NCAA championship. This match will also feature two of the top outside attackers in the nation. Ohio State outside attacker Shawn Sangrey is leading the nation with a 4.97 kills per game average, while Lewis outside attacker Jay Petty is eighth in the nation with a 3.89 kills per game average.
MPSF TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 2 seed Stanford (22-6, 17-5 MPSF) vs. No. 4 seed UC Irvine (23-5, 17-5 MPSF)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Los Angeles
Follow live: Gametracker, Online video, In-match Tweets
What to know: The final match before the NCAA Tournament selection committee meets on Sunday morning will have the biggest affect on this year’s four-team tournament field. Stanford and UC Irvine will meet in the MPSF Tournament championship with both teams needing to win to be assured a spot in the NCAA Tournament. With the at-large race being close and including USC and BYU, which both lost in the MPSF Tournament semifinals, there is a chance the loser of this championship match will not receive the at-large bid. This match will also feature two significant serving style contrasts between the two teams. UC Irvine in its five-game victory against USC on Thursday had eight aces but also had a season-high 26 serving errors. Stanford in its four game victory against BYU had four aces and five service errors.