Sept. 20, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The four-time defending national champion and fifth-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team opens the Big Ten slate at No. 10 Nebraska on Wednesday, Sept. 21. The match is set for 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 7-3 overall after going 3-0 in the Hampton Inn Classic held at Rec Hall on Sept. 16-17. Penn State swept both Long Island and Rutgers before defeating Florida Gulf Coast, 3-1. Sophomore Ariel Scott (Ridgewood, N.J.) led the team offensively averaging 3.40 kills per set (kps), while sophomore Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.) was second on the team with 2.70 kps. Freshman setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Okla.) paced the offense with 9.20 assists per set. In addition she had a team-high 0.70 aces per set and 2.80 digs per set. Sophomore libero Ali Longo (Littleton, Colo.) was second behind Hancock with 2.70 digs per set. Slay was unbeatable at the net with 1.90 blocks per set, while freshman Nia Grant (Warren, Ohio) and Hancock each averaged 0.90 blocks per set.
For the weekend, Penn State hit .345 as a team and averaged 13.70 kills per set, 12.00 assists per set, 2.10 aces per set, 11.30 digs per set and 3.20 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Nebraska
Nebraska leads the series with Penn State 11-6. The Nittany Lions have won four of the last six meetings, including the most recent on Dec. 18, 2008 in the NCAA National Semifinals. Five of Penn State's six wins vs. Nebraska have been on a neutral court.
Scouting the Huskers
No. 10 Nebraska owns a 7-1 record this season. The Huskers returned five starters, including two AVCA All-Americans from the 2010 squad. Nebraska's only loss this season was to Colorado State on Sept. 2 and the Huskers have won five matches since, including sweeping nationally-ranked Iowa State on Sept. 17.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions continue conference play on Sept. 24 at Iowa before hosting Wisconsin on Sept. 30 and Minnesota on Oct. 1 at Rec Hall.
For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State women's volleyball 2011 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets.