Sept. 20, 2008
University Park, Pa. - Behind 15 kills on .737 by senior outside hitter Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), the top-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team pounded New Hampshire in three games (25-10, 25-14, 25-15) Saturday morning at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions improve to 11-0 and host Saint Louis tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Rec Hall.
Junior outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) tallied nine kills as sophomore middle hitter Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) posted six and junior Kelsey Ream (State College, Pa.) and sophomore Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) both notched four kills. As a team, Penn State attacked at a .513 clip while holding New Hampshire to hitting .035.
Junior setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) dished out 37 assists as Hodge led the defense with 13 digs. Senior libero Roberta Holehouse (Joppa, Md.) picked up seven digs as sophomore Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) provided six digs.
Penn State outblocked New Hampshire, 8.0 to 2.0. Wilson and Glass led the Lions with three stuffs apiece.
The Nittany Lions opened up the early 8-2 lead aided by kills from Fawcett, Wilson and Hodge. A block from Hodge and senior Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa, Pa.) pushed the score to 11-4 and a Hodge ace and Harmotto kill made it 17-6. A Lion block from Glass and Wilson gave Penn State the 19-7 lead before two New Hampshire errors and a Harmotto kill ended the game, 25-10. Fawcett posted four kills as Harmotto, Wilson and Hodge all added in three. Penn State hit .545 in the set while siding out at 100% (10-for-10).
Penn State took the 11-7 lead in the set stanza on a block by Fawcett and Ream before a Wilson kill made it 15-10. Two Brown kills pushed Penn State up 18-12 and a D'Errico ace made it 20-13 before a Glass kill from junior Kimi Hohl (DeKalb, Ill.) ended the game, 25-14. Fawcett led the Lions with four kills as Ream and Brown both notched two.
Consecutive Wilson kills and another by Fawcett gave Penn State the 12-8 advantage in the third game before a Glass and Wilson block made it 14-10. A solo Hodge stuff pushed the Lions ahead 17-12 before a Fawcett kill sparked a 5-0 Penn State run to end the game, 25-15. Fawcett connected on seven of her eight attacks without an error to hit .875 in the game.
For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State women's volleyball 2008 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets At Hershey.