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EIVA Champions--Penn State

Mark Myers
Special to EIVAvolleyball.com

University Park, PA - Penn State coach Mark Pavilk had a interesting plan to stop St. Francis senior middle hitter Marc Honore prior to last night's 3-0 (30-28, 30-16, 30-27) sweep against No. 2 seed St. Francis in the EIVA championship game last night.

The 13-year veteran head coach said after his Nittany Lions defeated Princeton Thursday night that when he was walking back into Rec Hall Thursday afternoon - after the four semifinal teams had finish practicing - he noticed the scoreboard above the net had been lowered on top of the net.

"I looked at the St. Francis players in the stands and said, ‘That might be the only thing that can block Marc Honore," Pavlik said.

Unfortunately for Pavlik, he didn't have the services of a scoreboard, but he did have his 6-foot junior setter Luke Murray.

Murray recorded two blocks, including a solo block on Honore, and was named the EIVA tournament's Most Outstanding Player - a performance that helped his team advance to Columbus, Ohio for the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships for the ninth consecutive season.

"He was great tonight," Penn State senior outside hitter Alex Gutor said. "Two blocks on Honore. I was amazed. I thought his shoulders were going to be on the floor because [Honore] swung so hard. Everyone is looking at him because of his size, but he is a great player. I am happy he is my setter."

But in Game One it looked as if Friars and setter Shane Conley were going to steal the show in front of the 1,619 fans, which included a solid number of rowdy St. Francis fans.

Conley picked up exactly where he left off against George Mason Thursday night. The sophomore played almost perfect volleyball in the opening game, and was the catalyst for a St. Francis team that looked like it could shock the EIVA's most successful franchise, but the Lions were able to eke out a two-point victory.

Then Game Two started, and it looked like the loss had let all of the air out of the Friars balloon, and the Lions controlled the play for the rest of the match.

"I think it was more of the fact that the first server put us on our heels," St. Francis coach Mike Rumbaugh said. "I think that loosened them up a little more. I don't think it was just playing back too much. I think it was them playing more comfortable."

But it couldn't be denied that the lack of production from EIVA player-of-the-year Honore had something to do with St. Francis' second straight EIVA finals loss.

After hitting near-.750 with 25 kills in the semifinals, Honore was held to only 11 kills and a modest .304 hitting percentage, which wasn't the way Honore was supposed to end. His historic career at St. Francis, which included eight team records, but zero NCAA tournament appearances, ended without much fanfare. Even with the loss, the humble star was able to fondly recall his time in a Friar uniform.

"It has been a long journey. We came from humble beginnings. The records are just a reflection of how we came from a tough beginning to play in a championship," Honore said. "As any athlete would be, I am disappointed that we lost tonight, but it is satisfying that we got back to the championship game."

For the team he leaves behind, there is a sense of heightened expectations with the back-to-back EIVA final appearance, which is a direct correlation to the hard work that players such as Honore and senior libero Zach Nanni have put in over their four years in Loretto, Pa.

His departing seniors' effort wasn't lost on Rumbaugh, who has coach this group from battling to get in and stay in EIVA Tait division to one win away from the final four.

"This is an end of a good run with a great group of guys," St. Francis coach Mike Rumbaugh said. "Just to reflect where these seniors took us. Two years in a row we have fought for the EIVA Championship. They are going to leave a good legacy."

Notes
St. Francis setter Shane Conley set the school record for assist in a season (1,140), and Nanni became the first Friar to have more than 800 digs in a career, with 804...George Mason's Will Price, Penn State's Max Holt, Matt Anderson, and Gutor, and St. Francis' Nanni and Honore were named to all-EIVA tournament team, along with most outstanding player Murray.



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Conference News 2005-06 \| 2006-07 \| 2007-08 \| 2008-09 \| 2009-10 \| 2010-11 \| 2011-12 EIVA Champions--Penn State Mark Myers Special to EIVAvolleyball.com University Park, PA - Penn State coach Mark Pavilk had a interesting plan to stop St. Francis senior middle hitter Marc Honore prior to last night's 3-0 (30-28, 30-16, 30-27) sweep against No. 2 seed St. Francis in the EIVA championship game last night. The 13-year veteran head coach said after his Nittany Lions defeated Princeton Thursday night that when he was walking back into Rec Hall Thursday afternoon - after the four semifinal teams had finish practicing - he noticed the scoreboard above the net had been lowered on top of the net. "I looked at the St. Francis players in the stands and said, ‘That might be the only thing that can block Marc Honore," Pavlik said. Unfortunately for Pavlik, he didn't have the services of a scoreboard, but he did have his 6-foot junior setter Luke Murray. Murray recorded two blocks, including a solo block on Honore, and was named the EIVA tournament's Most Outstanding Player - a performance that helped his team advance to Columbus, Ohio for the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships for the ninth consecutive season. "He was great tonight," Penn State senior outside hitter Alex Gutor said. "Two blocks on Honore. I was amazed. I thought his shoulders were going to be on the floor because [Honore] swung so hard. Everyone is looking at him because of his size, but he is a great player. I am happy he is my setter." But in Game One it looked as if Friars and setter Shane Conley were going to steal the show in front of the 1,619 fans, which included a solid number of rowdy St. Francis fans. Conley picked up exactly where he left off against George Mason Thursday night. The sophomore played almost perfect volleyball in the opening game, and was the catalyst for a St. Francis team that looked like it could shock the EIVA's most successful franchise, but the Lions were able to eke out a two-point victory. Then Game Two started, and it looked like the loss had let all of the air out of the Friars balloon, and the Lions controlled the play for the rest of the match. "I think it was more of the fact that the first server put us on our heels," St. Francis coach Mike Rumbaugh said. "I think that loosened them up a little more. I don't think it was just playing back too much. I think it was them playing more comfortable." But it couldn't be denied that the lack of production from EIVA player-of-the-year Honore had something to do with St. Francis' second straight EIVA finals loss. After hitting near-.750 with 25 kills in the semifinals, Honore was held to only 11 kills and a modest .304 hitting percentage, which wasn't the way Honore was supposed to end. His historic career at St. Francis, which included eight team records, but zero NCAA tournament appearances, ended without much fanfare. Even with the loss, the humble star was able to fondly recall his time in a Friar uniform. "It has been a long journey. We came from humble beginnings. The records are just a reflection of how we came from a tough beginning to play in a championship," Honore said. "As any athlete would be, I am disappointed that we lost tonight, but it is satisfying that we got back to the championship game." For the team he leaves behind, there is a sense of heightened expectations with the back-to-back EIVA final appearance, which is a direct correlation to the hard work that players such as Honore and senior libero Zach Nanni have put in over their four years in Loretto, Pa. His departing seniors' effort wasn't lost on Rumbaugh, who has coach this group from battling to get in and stay in EIVA Tait division to one win away from the final four. "This is an end of a good run with a great group of guys," St. Francis coach Mike Rumbaugh said. "Just to reflect where these seniors took us. Two years in a row we have fought for the EIVA Championship. They are going to leave a good legacy." Notes St. Francis setter Shane Conley set the school record for assist in a season (1,140), and Nanni became the first Friar to have more than 800 digs in a career, with 804...George Mason's Will Price, Penn State's Max Holt, Matt Anderson, and Gutor, and St. Francis' Nanni and Honore were named to all-EIVA tournament team, along with most outstanding player Murray.