Sept. 24, 2009
Complete Release in pdf format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The top-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team opens its Big Ten slate on Friday, Sept. 25 at Northwestern. The Nittany Lions meet the Wildcats at 7 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Nittany Lions then travel to No. 15 Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 26 to challenge the Fighting Illini at 7 p.m. in Huff Hall.
Live stats and live audio will be available for both matches via a link at www.GoPSUsports.com. Penn State's match with Illinois will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
Nittany Lion Preview
The No. 1 Nittany Lions remained undefeated in 2009 after finishing its non-conference schedule with three 3-0 victories. The squad traveled to Temple on Friday, Sept. 18 and defeated the Owls 25-13, 25-9, 25-15 in front of a crowd of 2,719 fans. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions returned home and secured a 3-0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-8) win against Saint Francis (Pa.) before grabbing another victory versus Temple that night by scores of 25-16, 25-13, 25-12.
Penn State attacked at a .473 clip in three matches averaging 15.78 kills per set. The squad averaged 14.56 assists per set, 2.22 aces per set, 11.44 digs per set and 1.89 blocks per set. Senior Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) led the squad with 50 kills (5.56 kps) and senior setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) paced the offense with 13.00 aps. Junior libero Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) posted 11 aces for the weekend and led the team with 30 digs (3.33 dps). Junior middle hitter Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) led the front row in blocking with 12 total (1.33 bps).
The Nittany Lions have extended their NCAA-record winning streak to 76 consecutive matches. The team has also won 133 consecutive regular season sets dating back to the final set of a 3-1 victory at Michigan on Nov. 24, 2007. Penn State has also now won 62 consecutive home matches since the start of the 2006 season. The Nittany Lions own a 317-43 (.881) record in Big Ten play since joining the conference in 1991 and have not lost a Big Ten match since a 3-0 loss at Ohio State on Nov. 8, 2006.
Scouting the Wildcats
Northwestern is 9-3 heading into its Big Ten home opener with the Nittany Lions on Friday, Sept. 25. The Wildcats hosted Akron, Long Island and Cincinnati in its first home weekend of 2009 and finished with three 3-0 victories. The Wildcats have faced one top 25 team and lost 3-1 to then No. 21 Kentucky.
The Series: Penn State vs. Northwestern
The Nittany Lions own a 36-8 record against the Wildcats in a series that dates back to 1981. PSU won the first meeting on Nov. 27, 1981 3-1 (15-8, 15-12, 12-15, 15-10). Last season, the Nittany Lions defeated NU in three sets on two occasions, the first on Oct. 25 and then again on Nov. 21. The Nittany Lions have not lost to the Wildcats since 2002.
Scouting the Illini
Illinois currently sits at 8-1 on the season with its only loss coming in a 3-0 (24-26, 22-25, 17-25) setback to Florida State on Sept. 4. Most recently, the Illini earned a 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-20) triumph at Louisville on Sept. 18 and a 3-0 (27-25, 25-15, 25-20) win versus Ohio on Sept. 19.
The Series: Penn State vs. Illinois
The Nittany Lions are 34-6 all-time against the Illini. The two squads first met on Halloween in 1981 with PSU winning 3-0 (15-7, 15-1, 15-7). Last season the Nittany Lions won 3-0 on Sept. 26 (25-16, 25-19, 25-12) and again on Nov. 14 (25-23, 25-17, 25-13).
What's Next?
Penn State returns home to host Iowa and Wisconsin on Oct. 2 and 3, respectively. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The 2008 Big Ten Championship banner will be raised to the Rec Hall rafters in a ceremony prior to the Iowa match with the 2008 NCAA National Championship banner being raised on Saturday prior to the match with the Badgers.
Both matches will be streamed live at BigTenNetwork.com and live stats will be provided via a link at GoPSUsports.com.