UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 9 Penn State women's volleyball team hosts No. 5 Nebraska for their second Top-25 match of the week as the two top-ten squads square off on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. in Rec Hall on Penn State's campus.
The match will be aired on Big Ten Network with Jason Knapp and Audrey Flaugh on the call.
Penn State vs. Nebraska
8 p.m. | Rec Hall
BTN | BTN2GO | Live Stats | Radio | Tickets
PARKING
Women's Volleyball fans will have free parking in the Nittany Parking Deck, as well as in the Red A lots off North Atherton Street at White Course Drive. The Rec Hall ticket office opens 90 minutes before all matches.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. Nebraska
Nebraska is one of the lone teams to have a sustained winning record over the Nittany Lions, holding a 10-21 all-time advantage. It has been four seasons and seven matches since Penn State's last win over the Huskers as it came on Nov. 29, 2014 in Rec Hall.
Last Ten Results - Nebraska
11/30/13 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 26-24 W A
10/03/14 25-12, 22-25, 20-25, 23-25 L A
11/29/14 25-21, 25-15, 25-16 W H
10/02/15 25-12, 26-24, 14-25, 20-25, 11-15 L H
11/28/15 18-25, 18-25, 22-25 L A
11/04/16 25-22, 17-25, 23-25, 25-23, 11-15 L H
11/16/16 17-25, 14-25, 22-25 L A
12/09/16 25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 19-25, 6-15 L A
9/22/17 24-26, 19-25, 20-25 L H
12/14/17 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 26-28, 11-15 L N
FRESHMAN FORCES
Penn State has seen seven of their eight freshmen play significant time so far this season. In the last outing against Purdue, Penn State saw two freshman have career nights. Jonni Parker put down a season-high for both herself and the team with 18 kills, and Amanda Phegley saw her first real playing time contributions as she came off the bench as a middle blocker. She put down a 6-0-9 hitting line with two blocks and a dig.
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 427 of the team's 747 kills, or 57.4-percent. They also have recorded 56.4-percent of the total points.
BALANCED ATTACK
Penn State has had five different athletes lead them in kills so far this season. Both Nia Reed, Taylor Leath and Jonni Parker have led in five matches. Kaitlyn Hord has led in three matches, while freshman Allyson Cathey, who earned the start while Nia Reed was out, and led in kills on two occasions.
DIGGIN' MACHINE
Kendall White scooped up 254 digs so far this season, putting her at 1,216 for her career. She is the first to surpass 1,000 since Dom Gonzalez in 2011-14. With her 27 digs against Purdue, she cracked into the top-10 in career digs at Penn State.
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. 1,216 Kendall White, 2016-Pres.
11. 1,207 Sam Tortorello, 2002-05
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 1,260-201 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%).
MAKING UP MILES
Penn State was on the road for nine-straight matches, and 34 total days, with a home match on Sept. 1 and Oct. 5. During the road stretch, the Nittany Lions went 6-3 overall, 2-2 in Big Ten play, and 2-2 against ranked opponents.
Miles Charted (Round Trip)
Rec Hall > Stanford: 5,436 miles
Rec Hall > American: 416 miles
Rec Hall > Minnesota: 1,956 miles
Rec Hall > Ohio State: 650 miles
Rec Hall > Michigan State > Michigan: 905 miles
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Road trip totals: 9,363 miles
