Oct. 27, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The four-time defending national champion Penn State women's volleyball team remains at home on Friday, Oct. 28 to take on Iowa at 7 p.m. before hosting top-ranked Nebraska on Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.
A costume contest will be held on Friday with prizes to the top costumes. Saturday's match against the Huskers will air live on the Big Ten Network and is a Code Blue Blast event for students with a valid Penn State ID. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 1-800-NITTANY or prior to the match at the Rec Hall ticket office. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth and groups.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions improved to 15-5 overall and 8-2 in Big Ten play after sweeping both Ohio State and Michigan last week. Sophomore Ariel Scott (Ridgewood, N.J.) led the team with 3.17 kills per set, while sophomore Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.) averaged 3.00. Freshman Micha Hancock (Edmond, Okla.) paced the Penn State offense with 10.83 assists per set and also had 0.83 aces per set. Sophomore Ali Longo (Littleton, Colo.) led the defense with 3.50 digs per set while Slay was a wall at the net with 1.83 blocks per set.
For the week, Penn State hit .358 as a team and averaged 15.00 kills per set, 13.33 assists per set, 1.50 ace per set, 11.83 digs per set and 2.67 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Iowa
The Nittany Lions are 41-0 all-time against the Hawkeyes and have swept Iowa in all but six matches. Last season defeated the Hawkeyes on Oct. 16 (25-16, 25-22, 25-19) and against on Nov. 26 (25-18, 25-13, 25-20). Earlier in 2011, the Nittany Lions swept Iowa (25-23, 25-23, 25-14) in Iowa City in the second conference match of the season.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa heads into this weekend with a 11-12 overall record and a 1-9 record in league play. The Hawkeyes lost their first four conference matches before defeating Indiana in five on Oct. 7. However, Iowa went on to lose its next five matches. Following the Hawkeyes' visit to Penn State, they take on Ohio State on Sunday, Oct. 30.
Penn State vs. Nebraska
The Nittany Lions are 6-12 all-time against the Huskers. Saturday's match will only be the second time Nebraska has paid a visit to Rec Hall to challenge the Nittany Lions, and the first as a member of the same conference. Nebraska won that first visit on Sept. 4, 1993, 3-2. Penn State is 4-0 against the Huskers on a neutral court and 2-11 all-time in Lincoln, including the conference-opening loss at Nebraska on Sept. 21, 2011.
Scouting the Huskers
Nebraska took over the top spot in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll this week after knocking off top-ranked Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 22, 3-2. The Huskers own a 17-1 overall record in 2011, with their only loss coming at the hands of Colorado State on Sept. 2. Nebraska sits atop the Big Ten standings in its first season in the conference with a 10-0 record in league play.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions head back on the road for four straight matches. Penn State takes on Minncoesta on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., followed by Wisconsin on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.
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.