Penn State men’s volleyball fell to No. 16 in the latest AVCA Poll released on Monday afternoon. The one-spot drop comes despite the Nittany Lions riding a nine-match winning streak heading into the EIVA Tournament.

The Nittany Lions were jumped by Lewis, whom they defeated earlier in the season. Penn State received 149 votes, six fewer than the Week 14 rankings. Lewis rose one spot behind 169 votes.

Penn State has been tested in its last four matches. It won four consecutive five-setters against Sacred Heart and George Mason. Along with that, the Nittany Lions battled for a fourth consecutive 2-1 set comeback to clinch the EIVA regular-season title and finish unbeaten in conference play. NJIT is the only other ranked EIVA team, slotting in at No. 19.

The Nittany Lions also clinched home-court advantage throughout the rest of the conference tournament and a first-round bye. They await the winner of No. 4-seeded Charleston and No. 5-seeded Sacred Heart, who will play each other at Rec Hall on Wednesday, April 22.

Penn State will play its semifinal match on Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at Rec Hall. If it wins, it will play in the championship game on Saturday, April 25, at 7 p.m. against NJIT, George Mason, or Princeton for an NCAA Tournament berth.