UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. – The No. 9 Penn State women's volleyball team heads to the state of Michigan for a two-match stretch as the Nittany Lions take on Michigan State on Friday, September 28 at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network, and then will continue the road trip with a Sunday, September 30 match at No. 17 Michigan at 1 p.m. on ESPNU.
Penn State at Michigan State
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Penn State at Michigan
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SERIES HISTORY
vs. Michigan State
Penn State has a 45-7 all-time record over Michigan State. The Nittany Lions have a 9-1 record over the last 10 meetings, and went 3-0 over the MSU in 2017 alone.
Last Ten Results - MSU
11/24/12 25-13, 25-21, 25-15 W H
09/27/13 23-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-19, 9-15 L H
11/02/13 25-14, 25-18, 25-20 W A
12/13/13 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 W N
10/25/14 26-24, 25-17, 25-21 W H
10/24/15 25-23, 25-22, 25-17 W A
09/30/16 25-22, 25-20, 25-13 W H
10/13/17 25-18, 15-25, 30-28, 25-18 W H
11/1/17 27-25, 25-19, 25-27, 25-21 W A
12/9/17 25-23, 25-17, 28-26 W H
vs. Michigan
Penn State has a 49-5 all-time record over Michigan. The Nittany Lions have a 8-2 record over the Wolverines in the last 10 matches, with the Wolverines taking the last match at Ann Arbor in 2016.
Last Ten Results - Michigan
10/20/12 25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 22-25, 15-10 W A
09/28/13 25-16, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17 W H
11/01/13 16-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-16 W A
10/24/14 25-18, 25-16, 25-16 W H
11/19/14 25-19, 25-23, 27-25 W A
10/21/15 25-18, 22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-7 W A
11/18/15 25-14, 22-25, 22-25, 22-25 L H
10/01/16 25-20, 25-19, 25-15 W H
10/22/16 23-25, 25-17, 27-29, 25-23, 9-15 L A
10/14/17 25-17, 25-18, 25-14 W H
FRESHMAN FORCES
Penn State has seen six of their eight freshmen play significant time so far this season. Kaitlyn Hord and Serena Gray have found themselves as the starting middle blockers, while Jonni Parker has played as the starting opposite. Over the last three matches, Allyson Cathey has stepped in to start at the outside position. Both Jenna Hampton and Gabby Blossom have seen time as defensive specialists. The rookies combine for 303 of the team's 520 kills, or 58.3-percent. They also have recorded 56.6-percent of the total points.
DIGGIN' MACHINE
Kendall White scooped up 186 digs so far this season, putting her at 1,148 for her career. She is the first to surpass 1,000 since Dom Gonzalez in 2011-14. White is just 59 digs from cracking into the top-10.
Penn State Career Top-10 Digs
1. 1,957 Kaleena Walters, 2002-05
2. 1,685 Kim Kumfer, 1989-92
3. 1,522 Noelle Zientara, 1987-90
4. 1,474 Dominique Gonzalez, 2011-14
5. 1,313 Ellen Hensler, 1983-86
6. 1,306 Roberta Holehouse, 2005-08
7. 1,278 Salima Davidson, 1991-94
8. 1,265 Michelle Jaworski, 1987-90
9. 1,245 Alyssa D'Errico, 2007-10
10. 1,207 Sam Tortorello, 2002-05
LAST TIME
Penn State is 0-2 to open Big Ten play for the first time since 2000. However, that should not be a cause of distress, as the 2000 squad opened conference play with a 0-3 record, and turned around and finished the season with a 30-6 record and a spot in the NCAA Regional Final. Penn State lost its first Big Ten opener for the first time since 2013.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Penn State had three players record double-doubles in the four set loss to Ohio State on Sunday, Sept. 23. Bryanna Weiskircher finished the match with a season-high 49 assists adding 16 digs. Opposite Jonni Parker recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 digs. Outside Taylor Leath added her first Penn State double-double with a season-high 16 points and added 13 digs.
Fabulous 40
Head coach Russ Rose is in his 40th season at the helm of the Nittany Lions.
-Has led Penn State to 7 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships, tied for most in the nation by any institution. He is the only coach to win 7 NCAA Women's Volleyball titles.
-In 1999, the Nittany Lions became the first Big Ten team to win the NCAA Women's Volleyball title.
-Has directed the Nittany Lions to 17 Big Ten Championships, 3 times more than the next closest team in Big Ten history (Wisconsin, 5).
-Entering this weekend, Coach Rose has a 1,255-201 career record. Entering the season, he was the winning-est Div. I coach by percentage all-time (86.3%), and is the winning-est active Div. I Coach in wins (1,255), and winning percentage (86.3%).
