Before Wednesday's four-game thumping of Juniata, Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik cited the match as important because it was a potential EIVA finals matchup. The contest at 7 tonight against George Mason in Rec Hall will fit the same bill, as the third-ranked Nittany Lions (23-3, 9-0 EIVA) look to put away the No. 2 team in the conference.

Pavlik said Juniata and George Mason are similar squads.

"[Both teams are] streak, and [have] inconsistencies with their serving," Pavlik said. "I get the sense that they're two similar teams. I also get the sense that George Mason has a better opposite and a better outside hitter than Juniata."

This could be a challenge to the Penn State block; possibly a welcomed challenge in preparation for the NCAA tournament, which seems to be a more likely destination with each victory the Lions reel off. Penn State spent last weekend enjoying its typical physical advantage over EIVA also-rans, totaling 52.5 team blocks over the last four matches.

The Lions will play Ohio State in Columbus on Sunday afternoon, capping off a three-match series against the Buckeyes this season. Penn State won the first match in four games, then took the second in straight sets. The St. John Arena can be an intimidating atmosphere for smaller schools, but Pavlik said his team is immune to such intimidation because of the similar atmosphere in Rec Hall.

"St. John Arena is real similar to playing in Rec Hall," Pavlik said. "We're very comfortable in St. John, just as Ohio State is really comfortable playing in Rec Hall."

The Lions are vying for their first 30-win season since 1982, which would make it their first of the rally-scoring era.

In order to amass that number of victories, Penn State would need to win its remaining regular season matches, and then win the EIVA tournament. Neither of those goals are stretches, but then again, it's the potential 31st and 32nd victories that will show where Penn State stacks up against the nation's elite.