Nov. 3, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The four-time defending national champion Penn State women's volleyball team (17-5 10-2) moved up two spots in the poll this week to No. 6 after defeating Iowa and then No. 1 Nebraska, 3-1 last weekend. The Nittany Lions are set to take on No. 15 Minnesota on Nov. 4 at 9 p.m. before traveling to Wisconsin on Nov. 6 for a 2 p.m. meeting.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Nittany Lions own a 17-5 overall record with a 10-2 record in the Big Ten. Last weekend the Nittany Lions stormed past Iowa and Nebraska. Sophomore Ariel Scott (Ridgewood, N.J.) led the team with 4.00 kills per set, while her classmate Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) had 3.38 kills per set. Freshman Micha Hancock (Edmond, Okla.) averaged 10.25 assists per set and 1.25 aces per set. Sophomore libero Ali Longo averaged 4.38 digs per set and sophomore Katie Slay was unbeatable at the net with 1.75 blocks per set.
For the week, Penn State hit .220 as a team and averaged 13.38 kills per set, 13.00 assists per set, 2.25 aces per set, 18.12 digs per set and 3.12 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Minnesota
The Nittany Lions are 36-8 all-time against the Gophers. The Nittany Lions, then ranked No. 9, hosted 10th-ranked Minnesota on Oct. 1 and earned a 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-15) sweep at Rec Hall. The Gophers' last win against Penn State was on Oct. 2, 2004 when Minnesota defeated the Lions, 3-2, in Rec Hall.
Scouting the Gophers
No. 15 Minnesota owns a 13-8 overall record and is 6-6 in Big Ten play. The Gophers have conference wins against Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa and Wisconsin. Most recently, the Gophers swept then No. 3 Illinois on Oct. 29 on the road at Illinois' Huff Hall. Following their match with Penn State on Nov. 4, the Gophers will host Ohio State on Nov. 5.
Penn State vs. Wisconsin
The Nittany Lions own a 38-6 record against the Badgers dating back to 1986. Earlier this season, Penn State swept Wisconsin, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-22), in Rec Hall in their Big Ten home opener. Wisconsin's last win against the Nittany Lions was 3-0 sweep on Oct. 27, 2006.
Scouting the Badgers
The Badgers are 13-11 and are 5-7 in league action. The Badgers opened conference play with a 3-0 sweep of Northwestern, but have only won four additional conference matches, including defeating Ohio State (3-1), Michigan (3-1), Iowa (3-0) and Indiana (3-1). Wisconsin is coming off a weekend where it went 0-2 in Big Ten play with losses to Illinois (3-1) and Northwestern (3-2). The Badgers host Ohio State on Nov. 4 before taking on Penn State.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions remain on the road traveling to nationally-ranked Illinois and Northwestern on Nov. 11-12. The match with the Illini is set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 with the Lions taking on the Wildcats at 8 p.m. on Nov. 12.
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.