Oct. 1, 2009
Complete Weekly Release
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The top-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team hosts Iowa and Wisconsin at Rec Hall this weekend in its Big Ten home opener. The Nittany Lions take on Iowa on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. and welcomes the Badgers on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.
In a ceremony prior to the match with Iowa, the 2008 Big Ten Championship banner will be raised to the Rec Hall rafters. The 2008 NCAA National Championship banner will follow Saturday night prior to the match with the Badgers.
The match between Penn State and Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Rec Hall won't be the only featured battle that evening. The battle against breast cancer will also take center stage. The Sideout Foundation and Penn State women's volleyball have teamed together for the Dig Pink match to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and 200 pink shirts will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis at the student gate. In addition, various items will be on auction with proceeds going to Dig Pink.
Live stats will be available for both matches via a link at www.GoPSUsports.com. Both matches will be streamed live on the BigTenNetwork.com.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 14-0 after going 2-0 in their first weekend of Big Ten play. Penn State swept Northwestern, 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-16) in Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday, Sept. 25. The squad then recorded a convincing 3-0 (25-11, 25-17 25-17) victory at then No. 15 Illinois.
The Nittany Lions attacked at a .446 clip in two matches, averaging 16.30 kills per set. The team also averaged 15.00 kills per set, 1.50 aces per set, 14.17 digs per set and 2.25 blocks per set. Senior Megan Hodge led the team with 28 kills, averaging 4.67 kps and junior Arielle Wilson wasn't far behind with 26 kills (4.33 kps). Senior setter Alisha Glass dished out 79 assists, while junior Alyssa D'Errico led the team with 25 digs (4.17 dps). Wilson led the team with seven total blocks and junior Fatima Balza was second on the team with six.
The Nittany Lions have extended their NCAA-record winning streak to 78 consecutive matches. The team has also won 139 consecutive regular season sets dating back to the final set of a 3-1 victory at Michigan on Nov. 24, 2007. The Nittany Lions, with a 47-match Big Ten winning streak are just two matches away from tying the Big Ten record for consecutive league matches won at 49.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa heads into its second weekend of Big Ten play with a 9-5 overall record and is 1-1 in conference play. Most recently, the Hawkeyes defeated Wisconsin in four sets on Sept. 23, but was swept by nationally-ranked Minnesota on Sept. 26.
The Series: Penn State vs. Iowa
The Nittany Lions are a perfect 36-0 against the Hawkeyes since starting the series in 1991. Last season, Penn State swept Iowa twice. The first came on Oct. 10 with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 win and the second occured on Nov. 1 when the Nittany Lions won by scores of 25-16, 25-13, 25-15.
Scouting the Badgers
Wisconsin is 5-6 overall with an 0-2 record in league play heading into this weekend. The Badgers opened Big Ten play at home on Sept. 23 hosting Iowa. The Hawkeyes served the Badgers a 3-1 loss. Wisconsin then suffered a 3-0 loss to then No. 9 Minnesota on Sept. 25.
The Series: Penn State vs. Wisconsin
Penn State is 33-6 all-time against the Badgers and hasn't lost a match since 2006. The two squads first met Sept. 20, 1986 with Penn State winning 3-1 (15-2, 11-15, 15-3, 15-11). Last season, PSU defeated the Badgers 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-21) on Oct. 24 and 3-0 (25021, 25-13, 25-17) on Nov. 22.
What's Next?
Penn State heads on a four-match road trip starting with a Wednesday trip to Ohio State on Oct. 7. From there, the Nittany Lions visit Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 11, Michigan on Friday, Oct. 16 and Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 17.