It shouldn't be another typical EIVA match for the No. 11 Penn State men's volleyball team tonight.

While Penn State has grown accustomed to dominating its EIVA opponents, the match at Rec Hall tonight will be a battle for supremacy in the EIVA Tait Division, as Penn State (12-3, 8-0 EIVA) takes on George Mason (10-6, 8-0 EIVA) at 7:30.

George Mason comes in to Happy Valley as the only team other than Penn State to still be undefeated in EIVA competition. The Patriots have won four in a row and nine of their last 10, while Penn State has won seven in a row and 12 of its last 13.

Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik said that his team knows not to take George Mason lightly, as this could be one of the only EIVA teams that is capable of knocking off the Nittany Lions.

"The guys respect the team that's coming in here," Pavlik said. "We know they're playing with a lot of confidence and are a dangerous team."

The Patriots are the last EIVA team to beat Penn State, as the Lions are riding a 27-game EIVA winning streak since the loss at George Mason in April 2001. If it hadn't been for the loss to the Patriots, Penn State would currently be riding a 58-game EIVA winning streak.

George Mason is led by senior middle hitter James Claney, who was an honorable mention All-America selection last year. Alongside Claney is Brad Kniewel, who Pavlik said is the best libero in the league other than Penn State's Ricky Mattei. To extend its winning streak, Pavlik said that Penn State will have to serve well and continue playing physical at the net.

"If we block like we did last weekend, we'll be in pretty good shape," Pavlik said.

Penn State is playing its fourth game in five nights, having defeated three EIVA opponents -- Rutgers-Newark, Concordia and Princeton -- over the weekend. Pavlik said that the team blocked as well as it has all year in the match Friday against Rutgers-Newark. He also said that physical fatigue will not be a problem for the Lions, but the team needs to stay mentally focused and remember what it worked on in practice rather than what it did in its last games.

The Lions will likely be without the services of co-captain Zach Slenker, who is battling a nerve injury in his right hand. Slenker was in pain Friday morning and didn't travel with the team during its weekend road trip. Freshman Matt Proper replaced Slenker during the matches against Rutgers-Newark and Concordia and played well, notching 10 and 12 kills, respectively. However, Proper bruised his back before the Princeton match, and Dick Schneider stepped in to post 12 kills. Pavlik said that either Schneider or Proper will replace Slenker tonight.