Oct. 15, 2016
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The No. 10 Penn State women's volleyball team (16-3, 8-0 Big Ten) logged its 14th consecutive win on Saturday evening, disposing the Indiana Hoosiers (13-8, 2-6 Big Ten) on Saturday evening, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-18) inside University Gym.
Penn State hit over .300 once again, as a balanced attack of six players scoring on six or more kills guided the team to victory. Juniors Ali Frantti and Simone Lee along with redshirt freshman Tori Gorrell scored seven each, while juniors Heidi Thelen and Haleigh Washington each had six. Junior setter Abby Detering added five of her own.
The team's blocking also looked strong, with five members of the team getting involved on the defensive end. Thelen had a team best three blocks, while Frantti had two solo stops. Gorrell and Washington each had a pair of blocks as well.
Freshman libero Kendall White led the back line with a match-best nine digs. Frantti and Detering added six each.
Penn State returns to Rec Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m. where the team faces Ohio State. Attendees are encouraged to wear pink to the annual "Dig Pink" match, as the group looks to raise awareness for breast cancer. The match is also set to air nationally on the Big Ten Network.
Lee notched an early pair of kills in the first, but a solo block from Indiana gave the Hoosiers a four-point lead, as Penn State called for time, trailing 7-3. After another IU point, an error and a block from Thelen and Washington brought PSU within two, 8-6. Washington notched a solo block the next play to cut the lead to one when Indiana called its first timeout of the set. An IU error tied the match at 8-8. Penn State took five of the next seven points with a kill from Washington giving PSU a 13-10 edge. Indiana pulled within one before a big swing from Gorrell scored to make it 15-13, Penn State. The Blue and White scored twice more, forcing a timeout by the Hoosiers at 17-13.
Gorrell notched another kill out of the break, as Penn State grew the lead to six, at 19-13. IU scored twice in a row before another kill from Gorrell made it 20-15. Thelen got involved on a block and a kill before an error from Indiana capped the set with a 25-16 PSU win.
Kills from Washington and Gorrell and a solo stuff by Lee gave PSU an early 4-2 lead in the second frame. Washington aced the Hoosiers before IU errored and called for time as Penn State led, 6-2. The two groups proceeded to traded points when a hammer from junior Ali Frantti gave PSU a 10-6 lead. Frantti, Detering, Lee and Washington manufactured a 4-0 run for a 14-7 advantage. IU went on a 6-1 run before another impressive swing from Detering made it 16-13 for Penn State. A 3-0 Indiana run resulted in Penn State calling for time, still up, 18-16. Lee and Thelen scored on kills for a 20-17, PSU lead. Thelen scored again to force IU to call for time at 21-17. Frantti logged a solo block to start a 3-0 run. After IU fended off set point once, Frantti closed out the set with a kill for the 25-18 victory.
PSU came out of the break hot, with a kill from Gorrell capping a 5-1 Nittany Lion run. Frantti logged a solo block to take an 8-2 Penn State lead when Indiana called for time. Kills from Thelen and Washington pushed the lead to 11-3. The sides swapped points before an ace from redshirt sophomore Bryanna Weiskircher made it 15-6. Indiana didn't go easily, making a 6-2 run when the Nittany Lions used their first timeout of the set with a 17-12 advantage.
Frantti scored on a kill out of the stoppage before a net violation for IU made the score 20-14 in PSU's favor. A kill from Lee made it a 23-16 advantage, before she struck another two points later for set point. IU delayed Penn State for a point before an error gave PSU the third, 25-18.
NOTES:
Team
- No. 10 Penn State defeated Purdue in straight sets, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-18). It marked 14-straight victories for the team, and improved its record to 8-0 in Big Ten conference play.
- Over the 14-match winning streak, Penn State (15-3, 7-0 Big Ten) has dropped just three sets.
- As a team, Penn State logged a hitting percentage over .300 for the 14th time in the 2016 campaign. Detering, Gorrell and Washington all hit .500 or better in the match.
- Penn State out-blocked the Hoosiers, 7.0-5.0 thanks to contributions from five different Nittany Lions. Thelen led the way with three. Frantti, Gorrell and Washington each logged a pair, while Lee added one.
Series
- Penn State holds a 50-1 advantage all-time in the series against the Hoosiers.
- The Nittany Lions are now 24-1 when playing in Bloomington, Indiana, against IU and is on a 10-match win streak against the Hoosiers.
Players
Tori Gorrell, redshirt freshman middle blocker: Gorrell led the team in kills (seven) and hitting percentage (.667) while adding a pair of blocks.
Ali Frantti, junior outside hitter: Frantti had a team-best seven kills in the match while adding six digs, three assists and a pair of solo blocks.
Simone Lee, junior outside hitter: Lee led Penn State in kills (seven) while adding a pair of digs and a block.
Haleigh Washington, junior middle blocker: Washington hit .556 on six kills while adding three digs, two blocks, an assist and an ace.
Abby Detering, junior setter: Detering posted a team-high 25 assists while hitting .625 with five kills on eight errorless swings. She added six digs and an ace.
Heidi Thelen, junior outside hitter: Thelen logged a team-high three blocks while adding six kills.
Kendall White, freshman defense specialist: White led PSU in digs for the 16th time, logging a match best 9. She added on three assists.