With one weekend left of matches in Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) play, the conference title race and EIVA Tournament spots are wide open.
Penn State is in the driver’s seat at 9-3 with matches against last place Charleston (W.V.) (0-12) and George Mason (6-6) looming. The Nittany Lions swept Charleston on Feb. 25 on the road and also picked up a road win over George Mason, 3-1 on Feb. 24.
Heading into the weekend, the Nittany Lions are a game up on second place Saint Francis (Pa.), who checks in at 8-4. With two wins, PSU would clinch its 19th-consecutive EIVA regular season title. If PSU only wins one of the two matches, it would leave the door open for SFU to tie for the title.
Saint Francis also has matches remaining against George Mason and Charleston, both at home in Degol Arena. The best the Red Flash can finish in league play is 10-4 with a pair of wins. Earlier in the season, SFU topped George Mason in five sets (Feb. 25) and Charleston in four sets (Feb. 24).
Princeton is waiting in the wings to swoop in for the No. 1 or No. 2 seed with a little help. The Tigers are 7-5 coming into the weekend with home matches against Harvard (6-6) and NJIT (6-6) on the slate.
A Princeton loss could further jumble the standings as four teams follow them with a 6-6 record. NJIT, Sacred Heart, George Mason and Harvard are all vying for the final of the four EIVA Tournament positions.
NJIT has home matches with Sacred Heart and Harvard remaining.
Sacred Heart plays NJIT and Princeton, both on the road.
George Mason, as previously mentioned, is on the road at Saint Francis and Penn State.
Harvard wraps up conference action on the road vs. Princeton and NJIT.
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