UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 9 Penn State women's volleyball team hits the road for a midweek AVCA Top-25 match up as they head to West Lafayette, Indiana for a 7 p.m. showdown on Wednesday with No. 17 Purdue on ESPNU with Paul Sunderland and Dain Blanton on the call.
#9 Penn State at #17 Purdue
7 p.m. ET | Holloway Gymnasium | West Lafayette, Ind.
ESPNU | Listen | Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY
vs. PURDUE
Penn State has a 55-6 all-time record over Purdue, and have are currently on a 12-match win streak over the Boilermakers. The Nittany Lions actually have only dropped one match to Purdue since 1988, and that was on October 8, 2010.
Last Ten Results - PURDUE
11/19/11 22-25, 25-18, 25-15, 25-18 W H
10/12/12 25-19, 25-16, 25-16 W H
11/17/12 25-16, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21 W A
10/05/13 16-25, 25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 15-8 W A
11/08/13 25-18, 25-22, 25-21 W H
10/17/14 26-24, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-9 W A
10/17/15 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 W H
10/14/16 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 W A
11/19/16 25-17, 25-21, 25-19 W H
10/20/17 25-22, 25-14, 21-25, 25-10 W A
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 396 of the team's 684 kills, or 57.9-percent. They also have recorded 57.2-percent of the total points.
DIGGIN' MACHINE
Kendall White scooped up 227 digs so far this season, putting her at 1,189 for her career. She is the first to surpass 1,000 since Dom Gonzalez in 2011-14. White is just 18 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
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 between matches at Rec Hall.
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 1,259-201 career record. Entering the season, he was the winningest 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%).
BALANCED ATTACK
Penn State has had five different athletes lead them in kills so far this season. Both Nia Reed and Taylor Leath have led in five matches, with freshman Jonni Parker having led four times. 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.