Oct. 8, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Fresh off a 2-0 weekend on the road, the No. 4 Penn State women's volleyball team (12-2, 3-1) returns to Rec Hall this week to take on No. 11 Minnesota (15-2, 3-1). The Nittany Lions and the Golden Gophers square off Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The matchup will also be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, with Mike Wolf and Liz Tortorello-Nelson on the call.
PROMOTIONS CORNER
Remember to wear white, as Wednesday's match has been declared a WHITE OUT! Doors open at 6 p.m. for a free white shaker giveaway while supplies last. The Kids FunZone returns to the west mezzanine with a create-a-sign station and an airbrush tattoo artist. The Penn State men's hockey team will also make a special appearance during the intermission, with an autograph session to follow!
As part of an ongoing series honoring our 2013 graduating class, trading cards featuring each student-athlete will be distributed at the remaining home matches. This weekend we honor senior Katie Slay. Collect all seven trading cards for free admission to Senior Night vs. Illinois, Saturday, Nov. 23rd.
WEEKEND IN REVIEW
Penn State hit the road last week, traveling to Indiana and Purdue for its first two Big Ten conference road matches of the year. The Nittany Lions posted a 2-0 record, sweeping Indiana before concluding the week with a close 3-2 win at No. 24 Purdue. In the match against Indiana, the Nittany Lions posted a .507 hitting percentage against the Hoosiers, which is the highest PSU has hit against a league opponent so far this season. Penn State also held IU to just 45 total points across three sets, including just eight in the third frame, marking the least amount of points Penn State has surrendered to a Big Ten opponent in 2013.
PENN STATE VS. MINNESOTA
Penn State owns a 40-8 all-time series against the Golden Gophers, having posted wins in the last five consecutive outings. In the most recent tilt between the two teams, PSU claimed a 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 26-24, 25-18) win against Minnesota in the NCAA Regional Finals to earn a trip to the National Semifinals. The last time the Nittany Lions lost to the Gophers was on the road, Nov. 27, 2010 in a tough five-set match. Prior to the loss, Penn State had won the last 12 straight contests, dating back to Nov. 5, 2004.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
Heading into the week, No. 11 Minnesota is 15-2 on the year and 3-1 in the Big Ten, having split its two most recent road matches. Last weekend, the Gophers were swept at then-No.10 Nebraska, but rallied the next day, claiming a close 3-2 victory at Iowa. As a team, the Gophers are leading the league in blocking, averaging 2.76 blocks per frame. Offensively, setter Alexandra Palms has paced Minnesota to a .319 hitting percentage, which ranks second in conference and fifth in the nation.
Tori Dixon is at the helm of the UM offense, leading the squad with 4.23 kills per set on .463 hitting. Her attacking percentage ranks sixth nationally and first in the Big Ten standings. Dixon is also leading the team in blocking, averaging 1.28 blocks per set, with 68 total blocks this season, good for fourth in the conference. Ashley Wittman is close behind Dixon, averaging 3.44 kills per set, while also leading the team with 149 digs, averaging 2.87 per frame.
HANCOCK EARNS SEVENTH CAREER BIG TEN SETTER OF THE WEEK AWARD
After helping the Nittany Lions to a 2-0 weekend on the road, junior setter Micha Hancock earned Big Ten Setter of the Week honors. The weekly league selection is Hancock's first of the season and 11th of her career.
Leading the nation in aces per frame for the fifth straight week, Hancock concluded the weekend ranked second in the Big Ten in service aces, totaling six for a 0.75 average per set. She also finished fourth in assists, after dishing out 83 total assists, averaging 10.38 per set. At Indiana, Hancock directed the Penn State offense with a .507 hitting percentage in a 3-0 victory, while also adding four aces, seven digs, four blocks and three kills on 1.000 hitting. At No. 24 Purdue, she registered her first double-double of the season, tallying 45 assists and 13 digs.
THAT'S SOME HEAVY HITTING
Senior Katie Slay continues to cement herself among the best in hitting percentage in the country. With a .461 clip on the year, Slay is currently ranked seventh nationally. Her mark also ranks second in the Big Ten conference. As a team, the Nittany Lions are hitting .329 which leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation.
CAN'T GET PAST THIS
The Nittany Lions have combined for 133.0 total blocks in 2013, including 41 solo blocks. As a team, the 2.71 average per set ranks 22nd nationally and second in the league. Katie Slay is leading the PSU blocking effort with 1.44 per frame, which leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th nationally.
ROSE MOVING CLOSER TO HISTORIC MARK WITH 1,103 WINS
The Penn State win against Yale marked head coach Russ Rose's 1,100th career victory. Adding on three more wins since hitting the mark, Rose is now 1,103- 176 all-time, which puts him just three wins away from tying UCLA head coach, Andy Banachowski's mark of 1,106 for second on the all-time list, behind Hawaii head coach, Dave Shoji.
Earlier this season, Shoji surpassed Banachowski's mark, to become the all-time leader in the category. With Banachowksi no longer active, both Rose and Shoji will continue to go head-to-head, battling for the top spot.
ALL ALONE AT THE TOP
Micha Hancock is leading the nation in aces per set for the fifth straight week, according the latest NCAA DI stats release. With a total of 40 aces this season, Hancock is averaging 0.82 per frame, which ranks first in the Big Ten.
With four aces against Eastern Kentucky, Hancock notched her 200th career service ace. After recording six over the weekend, she improved to 212 aces, which puts her just 23 shy of tying Ellen Hensler (1983-86) for first on the PSU all-time list.
As a team, Penn State is averaging 1.57 aces per frame, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 26th nationally. Aside from Dominique Gonzalez has also recorded 11 aces, which ranks second on the squad.