UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The No. 7 Penn State women's volleyball team heads to Northwestern and Illinois for a two-game road trip as they take on Northwestern at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, November 9, and head to No. 4 Illinois for an 8 p.m. ET Saturday night match.
Penn State at Northwestern
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Penn State at Illinois
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SERIES HISTORY
vs. Northwestern
Penn State has a 52-9 all-time record over Northwestern, and a 25-5 record when playing at Northwestern. However, this will be the first meeting between the two squads at Walsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern's last win came in the 2015 season in Evanston.
Last Ten Results - Northwestern
11/10/12 25-16, 25-16, 25-16 W H
10/20/13 25-17, 25-15, 25-17 W A
11/22/13 25-17, 25-18, 31-33, 25-20 W H
10/08/14 25-20, 25-17, 25-17 W H
11/26/14 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 W A
10/10/15 18-25, 25-23, 24-26, 25-17, 12-15 L A
11/25/15 25-18, 25-14, 26-24 W H
09/25/16 27-25, 25-17, 25-17 W A
11/25/16 25-23, 25-23, 25-16 W H
9/30/17 26-24, 25-14, 25-14 W H
vs. Illinois
Penn State has a 45-10 all-time record over the Illini, with their last loss coming in the 2014 season. Penn State is 19-7 in Huff Hall.
Last Ten Results - Illinois
11/11/11 21-25, 23-25, 26-28 L A
10/06/12 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 24-26, 18-16 W A
11/08/12 25-17, 25-17, 25-14 W H
10/18/13 19-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-15, 15-12 W A
11/23/13 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 25-16 W H
10/11/14 24-26, 25-16, 23-25, 22-25 L H
10/09/15 25-16, 25-18, 24-26, 27-25 W A
11/26/16 25-18, 26-24, 19-25, 25-21 W H
10/29/17 25-19, 25-17, 26-24 W H
10/28/17 30-28, 25-11, 25-15 W A
Balanced Attack
Penn State has had five different athletes lead them in kills so far this season. Nia Reed, Taylor Leath and Jonni Parker have led in seven matches. Kaitlyn Hord has led in three matches, while freshman Allyson Cathey, who earned the start while Nia Reed was out, led in kills on two occasions.
Team Defense
Penn State leads the Big Ten in blocks per set at 2.94, which is good for fifth in the nation. The Nittany Lions are also killing the floor defense game as well. Penn State is currently averaging 14.89 digs per set, which if the season ended today, would crush the 25-point rally scoring era record of 14.72 which was set in 2010.
DIGGIN' MACHINE
Kendall White scooped up 384 digs so far this season, putting her at 1,346 for her career. She is the first to surpass 1,250 since Dom Gonzalez in 2011-14.Against Nebraska (11/2), White become just the third Nittany Lion to reach 1,300 during the junior season, joining Kim Kumfer and Kaleena Walters, and just the first junior to complete this feat during the 25-point rally scoring era.
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. 1,346 Kendall White, 2016-Pres.
6. 1,313 Ellen Hensler, 1983-86
7. 1,306 Roberta Holehouse, 2005-08
8. 1,278 Salima Davidson, 1991-94
9. 1,265 Michelle Jaworski, 1987-90
10. 1,245 Alyssa D'Errico, 2007-10
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 1,265-203 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 (1,265), and winning percentage (86.3%).