Next month when the Boston Red Sox host the rival New York Yankees in the home opener at Fenway Park, the defending World Series champs will be presented with their rings -- right in front of the team they dramatically beat in the American League Championship Series. Tonight, before Juniata hosts the Penn State men's volleyball team at 7, Division III championship rings will be given out.

Take that, Nittany Lions.

OK, so maybe it's the Juniata women's team getting the rings from their championship run this fall. And maybe it can't possibly be construed as the same slap in the face as is the case with the Red Sox and Yankees, especially because Penn State's women's team does not even play the Eagles. And then there are the many personal ties between the Juniata and Penn State programs. But hey, catchy and controversial stories are few and far between for the No. 3 Lions (22-3, 8-0 EIVA), who have dropped just two sets thus far in EIVA play.

Juniata is one of the better EIVA squads, sitting in third place in the Tait Division while carrying the No. 1 ranking for Division III.

"We could end up seeing them in the [EIVA] finals," Lions coach Mark Pavlik said.

If Penn State doesn't see the Eagles in the conference finals, then they'll be sure to see Juniata at the Penn State volleyball camps this summer. That is just one of numerous ties between the two programs. Pavlik's wife, Heather, is an assistant coach for the Juniata women's team. Lions assistant coach Dennis Hohenshelt played for the Eagles in the early 1990s, and then served as head coach in 1996, before coming to Penn State.

Alas, there is an actual match to be played tonight, and Pavlik -- as well as history -- said that it should not be the usual EIVA cakewalk for the Lions. Juniata (13-6, 7-3 EIVA) is always strong on its home court, and pushed the Lions to four and five games in Huntingdon in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The Lions beat the visiting Eagles 3-0 at Rec Hall in February.

The Lions are in the middle of a stretch during which they play six matches in nine days, but in all likelihood, will not look past the Eagles, who would like nothing more than to knock off the toast of the East.