(Posted February 5, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College took on EIVA Tait Division leader and undefeated Penn State in its own backyard and dropped a 3-0 decision to the Nittany Lions, Tuesday night at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. Game scores were 30-21, 30-22, and 30-20. Game two was the closest that Juniata (3-3, 0-2 EIVA Tait) came to catching Penn State (10-0, 3-0 EIVA Tait), when the Eagles stayed within two points of the Nittany Lions all the way to 18-16. Penn State proceeded to score the next four points, including a kill and a service ace by Max Lipsitz, before a Zach Wanner (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) kill halted the run. The margin was still only at five points, 26-21, following another Wanner kill, but the Nittany Lions scored four of the next five points to win the game, with the last two coming through Juniata attack errors. The third game was also a close contest through the early going, with Juniata trailing 21-16 following a Nittany Lion service error. Penn State again managed to pull away late from Juniata, with the Nittany Lions scoring four of the last six points for the victory. Zach Bock (Mount Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) and Matt Fritz (Churchville, Md./John Carroll) led the Eagles with eight kills apiece, while Dan Powers (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) tallied four kills. Juniata was held to just .089 hitting for the match. Matt Werle (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) set the offense with 22 assists, while Fritz and Anthony Damiano (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) logged eight digs. Werle recorded four total blocks out of Juniata's total of 6.5 team blocks. Penn State was paced by Max Holt with 11 kills, and Matt Anderson with 10. Penn State hit .407 for the match, with a .448 hitting percentage in the third game. Juniata will return home for its next match, hosting Princeton University on Friday, Feb. 8, at 7:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center. -30-

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.