Penn State’s 5-year EIVA winning streak done with loss to Harvard

The longest conference winning streak in NCAA men’s volleyball history is over.

No. 6 Penn State had its 61-match EIVA winning streak snapped as it lost to Harvard 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 on Friday in Cambridge, Mass.

This is the first time that Penn State has lost a conference match since losing to George Mason in 2008. That was the Nittany Lions only loss the 2008 season and it finished the year winning the NCAA championship.

Harvard in the victory out-hit Penn State .457 to .244, including a season-best .700 attack percentage in the second game.

Outside attacker DJ White led Harvard with 13 kills against Penn State. This was also White’s first match back after suffering a leg injury at the start of the season.

In addition, freshman outside attacker Branden Clemens and outside attacker Nick Madden each added nine kills in the victory.

Harvard entered this match winless all-time against Penn State. However, the Crimson had forced the Nittany Lions to five games in their previous two meetings.

Despite Penn State’s recent success in the conference, coach Mark Pavlik said repeated throughout the season that teams in the EIVA have significantly improved this year. The coach also said in the most recent issue of Volleyball Magazine that would not be surprised if a team beat Penn State in conference play this season.

Middle attacker Aaron Russell in the loss had a team-high 11 kills.