Nov. 12, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Athletics is set for one of its busiest weekends in recent memory highlighted by the start of the basketball season, Cael Sanderson's first matches as head wrestling coach and women's soccer hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Also, football welcomes Indiana on Senior Day and women's volleyball looks to make history with its 91st and 92nd consecutive victories.
Friday features three evening home games and at least two other road tilts. The Nittany Lion Basketball team opens the regular season against Penn at 7:30 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. Free NIT mini replica banners will be given away and football season ticket holders can redeem their ticket booklet coupon for buy one, get one free tickets (up to four free tickets).
Also at 7:30, the women's soccer team begins its quest for the College Cup at home against Colgate in the NCAA First Round. The 12-straight Big Ten Champions are hosting an NCAA Tournament game for the 29th time and look to improve to an incredible 24-5 in those contests. Earlier in the day (at 5 p.m.), St. John's and Virginia square off with the winners set to play in Sunday's NCAA Second Round at 1 p.m., also at Jeffrey Field.
With two wins this weekend, women's volleyball would tie UNC women's soccer for second all-time with 92 consecutive victories. |
The third Friday home event features the two-time defending NCAA Champion women's volleyball team (26-0, 14-0) against No. 5 Illinois at 7 p.m. at Rec Hall. With a win, the Lions would set themselves up for a potentially historic home match on Saturday evening.
Two other squads open their seasons on the road on Friday at 7 p.m. as Lady Lion Basketball plays at Drexel and wrestling travels to Lehigh for Sanderson's first match heading the Nittany Lions. Also, if men's soccer tops Michigan in Thursday's Big Ten Opening Round, it would face Northwestern or Michigan State in the conference semifinals at 4:30 p.m. in Bloomington, Ind., with live coverage on the Big Ten Network.
Saturday features Football Senior Day vs. Indiana , with 19 seniors set to be honored prior to the 12 p.m. kickoff on the Big Ten Network. The Nittany Lions visit Michigan State for their regular season finale on Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday evening could see women's volleyball make history in Rec Hall. Should they win on Friday, the Nittany Lions would be eyeing their 92nd consecutive win against Northwestern at 7 p.m. The 92 straight victories would tie North Carolina women's soccer for second place in NCAA Division I history.
Talor Battle leads the defending NIT Champion men's basketball team into its season-opener on Friday vs. Penn. |
Cross country also will be competing in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Princess Anne, Md.
The action continues on Sunday with Sanderson making his home debut as head wrestling coach at 12 p.m. against Bloomsburg at Rec Hall. Should it defeat Colgate on Friday, women's soccer would face St. John's or Virginia at 1 p.m. in the NCAA Second Round.
Women's basketball hosts NJIT Sunday at 2 p.m. in its home opener as well. Should it play and win on Friday, the men's soccer team also would be in action in the Big Ten Championship Game at 2 p.m., with live coverage on the Big Ten Network.
SHUTTLE BUS AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY
Fans that are planning to attend Sunday's three events are encouraged to use the ample free parking near the Jordan Center and board the shuttle to Rec Hall for the wrestling match. The shuttle will then pick fans up after the Nittany Lions wrap up action with Bloomsburg and bring them back to the BJC for the Lady Lions' game against NJIT. The first shuttle will depart from the bus turnaround near the Shields Parking Lot adjacent to the BJC at 10:30 a.m. and drop fans off in front of Rec Hall's main entrance. The short trip will be repeated approximately every 30 minutes between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Women's basketball opens its season at Drexel on Friday before hosting NJIT on Sunday at the Bryce Jordan Center. | |
Cael Sanderson makes his Penn State coaching debut this weekend. | |
Senior Daryll Clark and the Nittany Lions face Indiana on Senior Day Saturday. |
TICKET INFORMATION
Men's Basketball
Adults: $18 (lower bowl)/$15 (upper deck)
Youth: $7/$5
To purchase tickets, call: (814) 865-5555
For more information, please click here.
Women's Basketball
Adults: $12
Youth: $5
To purchase tickets, call: (814) 865-5555
For more information, please click here.
Women's Soccer
Adults: $7
Students and Youth: $3
Penn State Students: Free with ID
(Sponsored by PSU Women's Soccer Booster Club)
Tickets will be available at the gate, or can be pre-ordered at the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office between 12 -4:30 p.m. on Wednesday or 10-4:30 on Thursday or Friday.
For more information, please click here.
Women's Volleyball
Adults: $8
Youth: $5
$5 for groups of 15 or more ($4 in advance)
To purchase tickets, call: 1-800-Nittany or (814) 863-1000
For more information, please click here.
Wrestling
Adults: $8
Youth: $5
$5 for groups of 15 or more ($4 in advance)
To purchase tickets, call: 1-800-Nittany or (814) 863-1000
For more information, please click here.
PENN STATE ATHLETICS SCHEDULE, NOV. 12-15
(Home Competition In Bold Caps)
Thursday
Men's Soccer vs. Michigan, Big Ten Tournament First Round, at Indiana: 3 p.m.
Friday
*Men's Soccer vs. Northwestern/Michigan State , Big Ten Semifinals, at Indiana: 4:30 PM
Wrestling at Lehigh: 7:00 p.m.
Women's Basketball at Drexel: 7:00 p.m.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL VS. ILLINOIS (REC HALL): 7:00 PM
MEN'S BASKETBALL VS. PENN (BRYCE JORDAN CENTER): 7:30 PM
WOMEN'S SOCCER VS. COLGATE (NCAA FIRST ROUND AT JEFFREY FIELD): 7:30 PM
Saturday
Cross Country at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional: 10:00 AM
FOOTBALL VS. INDIANA (BEAVER STADIUM): 12:00 PM
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL VS. NORTHWESTERN (REC HALL): 7:00 PM
Sunday
WRESTLING VS. BLOOMSBURG: 12:00 PM
*WOMEN'S SOCCER VS. VIRGINIA/ST. JOHN'S (NCAA SECOND ROUND AT JEFFREY FIELD): 1:00 PM
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL VS. NJIT (BRYCE JORDAN CENTER): 2:00 PM
*Men's Soccer vs. TBA, Big Ten Championship, at Indiana: 2 PM
* Denotes possible game