Nov. 11, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 8 Penn State women's volleyball team returns to Rec Hall this weekend to host Wisconsin and No. 9 Illinois. The Nittany Lions take on the Badgers at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12 and the Fighting Illini on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.
Live stats will be available for both matches via a link at GoPSUsports.com. Saturday's match with Illinois will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Penn State's match with Wisconsin on Friday night for Dig Pink. The Nittany Lions have teamed up with the Sideout Foundation to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer. The first 250 fans at Rec Hall will receive pink t-shirts. Saturday's match with Illinois has been declared a Code Blue. All fans are encouraged to wear blue.
Nittany Lion Preview
The three-time defending national champion Penn State women's volleyball team host Wisconsin and No. 9 Illinois this weekend. Penn State's match with the Illini will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
The Nittany Lions improved to 21-4 overall with a 11-3 record in league play with a 3-0 sweep of then No. 15 Michigan on Friday, Nov. 5 and a 3-1 win against Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 6. The Nittany Lions reached 20 wins for the 34th consecutive season. So far in 2010, three Nittany Lions are averaging 2.71 kills per set or more, including senior Blair Brown who leads the team with 3.90 kills per set. Freshman Deja McClendon is not far behind with 3.37 kills per set and senior Arielle Wilson is averaging 2.71 kills per set. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter has been the primary setter this season, averaging 10.84 assists per set. She has guided three of her primary hitters to a .304 hitting percentage or better. Senior libero Alyssa D'Errico has a team-high 3.92 digs per set, while there are three middle hitters averaging at least 1.16 blocks per set including Wilson (1.19 bps), senior Fatima Balza (1.16 bps) and freshman Katie Slay (1.59 bps).
Penn State vs. Wisconsin
The Nittany Lions are 36-6 all-time against the Badgers. Penn State has won the last seven meetings with Wisconsin, including a 3-0 sweep of the Badgers on Sept. 26. Wisconsin's last win against the Nittany Lions was a straight set win on Oct. 26, 2006.
Scouting the Badgers
Wisconsin is 15-10 overall with a 4-10 record in Big Ten play. The Badgers, who are in the midst of a six-match stretch in which they play five top-25 teams, are 1-7 against ranked team this season, with their sole victory coming against then No. 24 Northwestern on Nov. 6. Wisconsin is 3-3 over its last six matches.
Penn State vs. No. 8 Illinois
The Nittany Lions own a 36-7 record against Illinois dating back to 1981. Earlier this season, the Illini dealt Penn State its first conference loss since 2006 on Sept. 24. The Illini defeated the Nittany Lions 3-2. It was Illinois' first win against the Nittany Lions since 2003.
Scouting the Fighting Illini
Illinois is, which holds a one-match lead over Penn State for first place in the Big Ten standings, is 20-4 overall with a 12-2 record in Big Ten play. The Illini take on Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 12 before traveling to Happy Valley on Saturday. Illinois has just one victory in 20 tries at Penn State, a five set win on Nov. 24, 1995. The Illini have not won a set at Rec Hall since then.
Penn State Recap
The Nittany Lions improved to 21-4 with an 11-3 record in Big Ten play with a 3-0 sweep of No. 15 Michigan and a 3-1 win against Michigan State last weekend. Brown led all players with 28 kills and was second on the team with 10 blocks. Freshman Ariel Scott was second on the team with 22 kills, while Slay had 17 kills on a team-best .593 attack percentage. Carpenter dished out 74 assists and D'Errico posted 22 digs. Slay led all players with 16 total blocks, including 10 at Michigan.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions remain at home for their next two matches. Penn State takes on Ohio State on Wednesday, Nov. 17 and Northwestern on Friday, Nov. 19. Both matches are at 7 p.m.
For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State women's volleyball 2010 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets at Hershey.