Oct. 13, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The four-time defending national champion Penn State women's volleyball team continues the Big Ten slate this week with matches at No. 11 Purdue on Friday, Oct. 14 and Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 15. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on BigTenNetwork.com.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions are now 11-5 overall defeating Northwestern, 3-2, on Wednesday, Oct. 5 and suffering a 3-2 loss to No. 1 Illinois on Oct. 8. Sophomore Ariel Scott (Ridgewood, N.J.) led the team averaging 4.00 kills per set, while sophomore Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) hit 2.80 kills per set. Freshman setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Okla.) dished out 8.80 assists per set and had a team-best 1.10 aces per set. Sophomore Ali Longo (Littleton, Colo.) averaged 4.20 digs per set, while Hancock had 2.70 digs per set and freshman Dominique Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas) averaged 2.44 digs per set. Sophomore Katie Slay(Raleigh, N.C.) was a wall at the net with 1.50 blocks per set.
For the week, Penn State hit .173 as a team and averaged 12.70 kills per set, 11.80 assists per set, 1.30 aces per set, 17.30 digs per set and 2.35 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Purdue
Penn State leads the series with the Boilermakers 44-6. Purdue earned its first win against the Nittany Lions since Dec. 4, 1987. The Nittany Lions won the initial meeting between the two squads back in 1981, but Purdue went on to win the next five. The Nittany Lions won 42 straight matches against the Boilermakers from 1988 to 2009 before Purdue defeated Penn State 3-2 on Oct. 8, 2010 in IAF. The Nittany Lions then defeated the Boilermakers 31 on Oct. 30, 2010 in Rec Hall.
Scouting the Boilermakers
The Boilermakers are 15-2 overall in 2011 and are 4-2 in Big Ten action. Purdue opened the season winning 14 straight matches before Illinois and Nebraska each handed the Boilermakers 3-1 losses on the road to end the streak. The Boilermakers rebounded with a 3-0 sweep of Iowa on Oct. 8.
Penn State vs. Indiana
The Nittany Lions are 41-1 all-time against the Hoosiers. Indiana earned its first-ever victory against Penn State last season with a 3-1 win at home in University Gym. The Nittany Lions went on to defeat the Hoosiers on Oct. 29 3-0 in Rec Hall.
Scouting the Hoosiers
Indiana is 8-10 overall and 0-6 in the Big Ten in 2011. The Hoosiers opened the season winning eight of their first 10 matches, but since a loss vs. UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 17, Indiana as failed to win another match. Indiana faces Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 14 before taking on the Nittany Lions on Oct. 15.
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.