Nov. 17, 2014
By Anita Nham, GoPSUSports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A season-high crowd of 5,569 fans packed Rec Hall to watch No. 6 Penn State women's volleyball sweep past Minnesota in straight sets (25-20, 25-12, 25-23) on a chilly Saturday evening.
In some areas, spectators were standing two-to-three rows deep in order to watch the defending NCAA champions continue their 10-match winning streak.
"I thought the crowd was fantastic," said head coach Russ Rose. "It was a great day in Penn State Athletics with the football team becoming bowl-eligible, the field hockey team winning a NCAA game versus Boston College, and the effort we had tonight. Minnesota is very good and I thought we played really well...Great win against a good opponent."
The Nittany Lions trailed early in the first set, 6-4, but due to two attack errors from the Gophers, Penn State was able to tie the set. The Gophers quickly retaliated and went on a four-point run that caused Penn State to call the first time out of the match.
After the timeout, Penn State went on a 4-1 surge to trim the deficit to within one, 12-11, but the Gophers pushed ahead from errors from the Nittany Lions. A service ace from senior Lacey Fuller and an attack error from the Gophers allowed Penn State to get their first lead of the match, 15-14.
Penn State built on their momentum and created a four-point lead, 21-17, that required Minnesota to take their final timeout of the set. Holding a 23-19 the Nittany Lions clinched the opening set (25-20) thanks to consecutive kills from junior Aiyana Whitney.
Whitney recorded a team-high of 17 kills on .682 hitting.
"I'm kind of in the mindset of `I just want to take pressure off of the hitters,'" said Whitney. "I know if I'm playing well than our younger players can feel less pressure and can kind of play relaxed and I think that's my ultimate goal - to take the pressure off of everyone else and just play well."
The Nittany Lions built on their momentum from the first set to create a five-point cushion, 9-4, early in the second. Minnesota cut the streak by one, but Penn State rallied back with a 5-1 drive to create an eight-point advantage en route to a 25-12 victory in the set..
Hancock, who recorded 31 assists and four aces in the match to tally 91 aces this season, played a critical role in the 2-0 lead. She tied the all-time single season record, which she previously set in 2011.
"When Micha serves well, I just want the rest of the people to serve the ball on the court," said coach Rose. "When Micha is struggling with her serves, then their serves are a little more important."
Nonetheless, Minnesota wasn't going to give the match up easily as they had an early six-point lead, 7-1, in the third set.
"I'm still worrisome [from the third set]," said Hancock. "I know we're better when we control the ball. It's hard to have that confidence when you've come off a second game like that. It's all mental readiness."
Coach Rose agreed.
"Just because you win one game easy, doesn't mean [we aren't going to lost] when down 8-2 in the third game. I'm not thinking about how easy the second game is; I'm thinking about what I didn't do at intermission to get them ready to play," said coach Rose.
The Nittany Lions went on a 13-6 push to tie the set at 13-13. It was a back-and-forth set until a block from freshman Haleigh Washington allowed Penn State to take a two-point edge, 21-19. The Gophers reclaimed the lead on a four-point drive, 23-21.
However, in the midst of a deafening home crowd, Minnesota recorded two attack errors to give Penn State a 24-23 lead. Senior Dominique Gonzalez recorded an ace for match point to complete the sweep.
"Everybody's playing for something. Some people are playing to get into the tournament, some are playing for a top-seed, and in the second half of the Big Ten season, everybody's good," said coach Rose.