Nov. 25, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 7 Penn State women's volleyball team closes out the Big Ten regular season on the road with matches at Iowa and No. 15 Minnesota. The Nittany Lions (25-4, 15-3 Big Ten) take on the Hawkeyes on Friday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. ET and face the Gophers on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Both matches will be broad cast live on the Big Ten Network. Live stats will be available for both matches via a link at GoPSUsports.com.
Nittany Lion Preview
The three-time defending national champion Penn State women's volleyball team closes out the Big Ten regular season on the road with matches at Iowa and No. 15 Minnesota. The Nittany Lions face the Hawkeyes on Friday, Nov 26 at 2 p.m. ET and the Gophers on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The Nittany Lions improved to 25-4 overall with a 15-3 record in league play with straight set wins against Ohio State and then No. 25 Northwestern last week. So far in 2010, three Nittany Lions are averaging 2.67 kills per set or more, including senior Blair Brown who leads the team with 4.06 kills per set. Freshman Deja McClendon is not far behind with 3.40 kills per set and senior Arielle Wilson is averaging 2.67 kills per set. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter has been the primary setter this season, averaging 11.11 assists per set. She has guided three of her primary hitters to a .322 hitting percentage or better. Senior libero Alyssa D'Errico has a team-high 3.96 digs per set, while there are three middle hitters averaging at least 1.15 blocks per set including Wilson (1.15 bps), senior Fatima Balza (1.32 bps) and freshman Katie Slay (1.56 bps).
Penn State vs. Iowa
The Nittany Lions are 39-0 all-time against the Hawkeyes dating back to 1991. Penn State will be going for its 40th match win against Iowa on Friday afternoon. Earlier this season, the Nittany Lions swept Iowa at home in Rec Hall. Penn State has only lost seven sets to the Hawkeyes since the series began.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa is 7-20 overall with a 2-16 record in conference play heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The hawkeyes' two conference victories came in a five-set thriller against Indiana on Oct. 1 and a 3-1 win against Michigan on Nov. 13. Most recently, Iowa suffered two 3-1 setbacks on the road at both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Penn State vs. Minnesota
The Nittany Lions are 35-7 all-time against the Gophers in a series dating back to 1983. Penn State has won its last 12 matches against Minnesota, including a 3-1 win in Rec Hall on Oct. 15. Minnesota's last win against Penn State was Oct. 2, 2004
Scouting the Gophers
Minnesota sits at 22-8 overall with a 12-6 record in Big Ten action prior to this weekend. The Gophers will face Ohio State on Friday before taking on the Nittany Lions Saturday night. Minnesota is 4-6 against nationally-ranked opponents this season and most recently defeated then No. 9 Illinois, 3-2.
Penn State Recap
The Nittany Lions improved to 25-4 with a 15-3 record in Big Ten play with 3-0 sweeps of Ohio State and No. 25 Northwestern. Senior Blair Brown led the Nittany Lions with 35 kills, averaging 5.83 kills per set on .418 hitting. Freshman Deja McClendon posted 21 kills with a .341 attack percentage. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter dished out 78 assists, while senior Alyssa D'Errico had a team-high 33 digs (5.50 digs per set). Senior Fatima Balza was a wall at the net with 12 total blocks, averaging 2.00 blocks per set.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions will wait to hear their fate in the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Division I women's volleyball selection show will air on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. on ESPNews. Penn State and Rec Hall serve as one of four host sites for the NCAA Regionals on Dec. 10-11.
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.