Sept. 18, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fourth-ranked Penn State women's volleyball team (10-1) begins Big Ten play on Wednesday, Sept. 19 when it hosts No. 3 Nebraska (8-1). Action is set for 8 p.m. at Rec Hall. The match will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 1-800-NITTANY and are $8 for adults and $5 for youth. Fans can also purchase tickets at the Rec Hall ticket office prior to the event. Students with a valid Penn State ID will be admitted for free. It is a Code Blue Blast swipe event for Penn State students.
Nittany Lion Preview
The Penn State women's volleyball team improved to 10-1 after winning three straight matches in the Penn State Classic on Sept. 14-15. The Lions defeated Portland (3-0), Duquesne (3-0) and Eastern Illinois (3-0). Juniors Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) led PSU with 3.62 kills per set and junior Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.) registered 3.22 kills per set on a team-best .683 hitting percentage. Sophomore Micha Hancock (Edmond, Okla.) dished out 12.11 assists per set and tied with freshman Megan Courtney (Dayton, Ohio) with 2.88 digs per set. Slay and Hancock each averaged 1.11 blocks per set.
For the weekend, the Nittany Lions hit .409 and averaged 15.67 kills, 13.89 assists, 1.33 aces, 12.67 digs and 2.78 blocks per set.
Penn State vs. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers lead the series with Penn State 12-7. Penn State has won in two of the last three meetings, including on Dec. 18, 2008, 3-2, to advance to the NCAA National Championship, and again on Oct. 29, 2011 when the Lions defeated Nebraska 3-1 at home in Rec Hall. The Huskers defeated Penn State in five sets in their first match as a member of the Big Ten last season on Sept. 21.
Scouting the Huskers
The Cornhuskers are currently ranked No. 3 nationally. After being ranked No. 1 for the past two weeks, Nebraska suffered a 3-1 setback to then No. 25 Iowa State on Sept. 15. They own an overall record of 8-1 heading into Big Ten action. The Huskers are led by John Cook, in his 12th year at the helm of the program. After facing Penn State, the Huskers travel to Ohio State on Sept. 22 to take on the Buckeyes.
What's Next?
Penn State remains at home to host Big Ten foe Iowa on Sept. 22. Action is set for 8 p.m. at Rec Hall.
For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State women's volleyball 2012 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets.
The Penn State women's volleyball team is on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us @PennStateVBALL and at www.facebook.com/pennstatewomensvolleyball.