Sept. 30, 2008
Complete Match Notes in PDF Format
University Park, Pa. - The top-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team heads to Indiana Wednesday, Oct. 1 for a 7:00 p.m. ET contest that will be televised to a live national audience on the Big Ten Network. Gametracker will also be available via a link at www.GoPSUsports.com.
Previewing Penn State
The Nittany Lions enter Wednesday's match with a 14-0 record and a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten after sweeping both No. 19 Purdue (25-12, 25-15, 25-21) and No. 20 Illinois (25-16, 25-19, 25-12) last weekend at Rec Hall to increase their overall winning streak to 40 matches, also having claimed their last 27 Big Ten contests. Junior outside hitter Megan Hodge and senior outside hitter Nicole Fawcett lead the squad with 3.88 and 3.80 kills per game, respectively, as senior middle hitter Christa Harmotto chips in 2.69 kills per game on a nation-leading .557 hitting percentage. Junior setter Alisha Glass directs the offense with 12.29 assists per game and senior libero Roberta Holehouse anchors the defense with 3.38 digs per game. Harmotto and sophomore middle hitter Arielle Wilson both provide 1.26 blocks per game. As a team, Penn State is leading the country with a .399 hitting percentage while also holding its opponents to hitting .069, and is averaging 14.79 kills per game, 1.62 service aces per game, 12.19 digs per game and 2.89 blocks per game.
Scouting Indiana
The Hoosiers come into the match with an 8-6 overall record and a 0-2 conference mark after falling to No. 20 Illinois in four games (25-18, 24-26, 22-25, 22-25) and No. 19 Purdue in five sets (25-23, 23-25, 19-25, 25-23, 11-15) last weekend at home. Senior middle hitter Erica Short leads the team and the conference with 5.08 kills per game as sophomore middle hitter Ashley Benson chips in 3.35 kills per game. Freshman Mary Chaudoin and sophomore Hayley Koetter run a 6-2 offense with 6.27 and 5.47 assists per game, respectively, as senior libero Juli Pierce leads the defense with 3.55 digs per game. Benson head the blocking list with 1.55 blocks per game. As a team, Indiana is hitting .229 with 13.75 kills per game, 0.78 service aces per game, 13.90 digs per game and 2.62 blocks per game.
The Series: Penn State vs. Indiana
Penn State leads Indiana, 36-0, in a series that began in 1982. The last meeting was a three-game Nittany Lion win (30-14, 30-16, 30-23) on Nov. 3, 2007 at Rec Hall. The last meeting in Bloomington was a three-game Penn State victory (30-19, 30-22, 30-22) on Sept. 28, 2007.
Next Up
The Nittany Lions return home Saturday for a very special contest live on the Big Ten Network. Penn State will meet up with Michigan State in the first annual "Dig Pink" match for breast cancer awareness. The Nittany Lions have teamed with the Side-Out Foundation to raise funds and fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match and click here to donate!
Approaching 300
With a win, Penn State will reach 300 Big Ten wins in the history of the program. The Nittany Lions joined the league for the 1991 season and have captured 11 conference titles including the last five consecutive. Penn State enters Wednesday's match with a Big Ten record of 299-43, a winning percentage of 87%. The win total is second only to Minnesota, who enters the week with 312 Big Ten wins in program history.
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.