Volleyball

Howard Set for NCAA Tourney Rematch Against Penn State

Bracket | Tickets | Watch Live on BTN2Go

Howard University, fresh off its fourth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) volleyball championship this past Sunday, will be facing a familiar foe in the NCAA Championships, heading to State College, Pa. for a Friday tilt against No. 8 national seed Penn State.

The match is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on BTN2Go.

The match is a rematch of last season's NCAA first-round matchup. These two teams also met earlier this season, when the Nittany Lions came to Burr Gymnasium on Sept. 14 for a 3-0 win.

Syracuse and Yale will also be in State College for the first and second rounds.

In last year's meeting, Howard fell 3-1 to the Nittany Lions, but it marked the first time since 1989 that Penn State had dropped a set in an NCAA opening-round match.

The Bison come into this year's meeting with a 20-10 overall mark after defeating North Carolina A&T State this past Sunday to claim their fourth straight MEAC tournament title. Howard has won four straight matches and 15 of their last 17. Howard boasts the MEAC Player of the Year in setter Tamia Dockery, MEAC Championship Outstanding Performer in outside hitter Kira Porter and Coach of the Year in Shaun Kupferberg.

Penn State, No. 7 in the nation in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, is 23-7 overall despite the Nittany Lions dropping their regular-season finale, 3-2, against Wisconsin on Saturday. Penn State went 14-6 in Big Ten play, finishing fifth in the standings (the Big Ten does not hold a conference tournament).

All-session tickets for the first and second rounds are priced at $12 for adults and $10 for students and youth ages 12 and under. Groups of 20 or more may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $8. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by visiting the Athletics Ticket Office in the Bryce Jordan Center from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Single-match tickets will only be sold at the door the night of each match. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and youth ages 12 and under. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.