The 2023 EIVA preseason coaches poll has been released and Penn State Men’s Volleyball is once again picked as the top team in the classification. The Nittany Lions finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record and added two more victories to capture the EIVA title in the tournament.
Five of the six first-place votes were received by Penn State, while George Mason took the remaining top vote. The poll also showed Princeton, which won the 2022 EIVA title and made it to the championship match last season, as the second most popular pick. Rounding out the poll in third through sixth were George Mason, NJIT, Charleston (W.Va.), and Harvard.
The 35-time EIVA champion returns a strong class led by first-team All-American Toby Ezeannu and outside hitter Michal Kowal. Both were named Players to Watch by the conference. Ezeannu was a first-team All-American, while Kowal was an honorable mention. Libero Ryan Merk and middle blocker Owen Rose also return for their second season and are also honorable mentions.
The 2024 season for Penn State opens with a match against Central State on Jan. 4. The game is followed by a home match against Lewis.