Still catching your breath from the basketball game last night?  Here’s a review of this week in Penn State sports with a look at things to come.

As most of campus empties for spring break, the Men’s Volleyball team is staying put.  #4-ranked Penn State (14-1, 6-0 EIVA) gets set to host George Mason tonight in Rec Hall.  The team got a well-deserved week of rest, having taken on Saint Francis, #10 Lewis, and NJIT last week.  Outside hitter Will Price is averaging 3.72 kills per game, with setter Edgardo Goas and libero Dennis Del Valle contributing 12.83 assists and 3.02 digs respectively.

On the track and field front, today and tomorrow, the Nittany Lions will compete to secure spots in the NCAA Track and Field Qualifying Trials held at Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.  Sprinters, jumpers, and throwers, including Big Ten 60M and 200M champion Shavon Greaves and spot put runner-up Emma Schmelzer, will travel to Blacksburg to compete.  Middle and long distance runners, like Samuel Borchers (5th fastest mile in the Big Ten), will venture to South Bend.

Yesterday, Men’s Tennis lost 7-0 to the #3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.  Adam Slagter and Jason Lee hung with the Bucks in the number one pairing; however, the Tree Nuts proved too much for the Nitts.  Despite a valiant effort by the Lions, Ohio State swept the remaining doubles and singles sets.

The #8 ranked Men’s Gymnastics team will endure a grueling road trip this weekend, traveling to #11 Temple, #15 William and Mary, and #13 Navy.  Today, the Lions travel to Philly to take on the Owls.  On Sunday, they will complete their weekend gauntlet in Williamsport against the Tribe and the Midshipmen.

By far, the most exciting news this week came from the hardwood of the Bryce Jordan Center.  Before Talor Battle’s amazing shot sent the Illini packing, the Lions had trailed in the game for 36 minutes.  Down by 10 with 5 minutes to play, the Lions rained forth with a ferocious 14-3 run. Battle, a candidate for the Big Ten POY, almost secured a win for the Illini when he was stripped by two defenders with 26 seconds left in the game.  However, after Mike Davis of Illinois missed the front end of a one and one opportunity, Talor made up for his mistake.  With his kiss of death with .3 seconds left, Battle has all but ensured that Penn State will be no wallflower in this year’s Big Dance.