UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 12 Penn State women's volleyball goes on the road for the first time since Feb. 17 as it travels to take on Michigan State on Friday and Saturday.
Both matches are scheduled for 6 p.m., and both will stream on Big Ten Network+.
The Lions have played seven straight matches at Rec Hall. They had a road series at Maryland postponed during that stretch.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday, March 19 | 6 p.m.
Watch ($) | Live Stats
Saturday, March 20 | 6 p.m.
Watch ($) | Live Stats
OPENING NOTES
• Penn State takes a three-match winning streak to East Lansing for a pair of matches with Michigan State. The Lions are coming off a win over nationally-ranked Purdue and then a two-match sweep of Rutgers.
• Michigan State is set to play for the first time since Feb. 21.
• Just six matches remain on Penn State's regular season schedule. Following the trip to Michigan State, the Lions have two home matches with Wisconsin and two away matches at Nebraska. Both are ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
• Michigan State is 2-7 with a pair of wins over Michigan.
• The Spartans haven't played since dropping a pair of home matches to Wisconsin on Feb. 20-21. They took a set from the Badgers in the second match.
• Six of the Spartans' seven losses came to opponents currently ranked in the top 10 nationally.
SERIES HISTORY
• Penn State leads 48-7 in the all-time series with Michigan State.
• The teams first played in 1985.
• The Lions have won 11 straight matches in the series dating back to 2013. They dropped just three sets in those wins.
• Penn State is 22-4 against the Spartans in matches played in East Lansing. The Lions have won 14 straight road matches in the series, with the last road loss coming in 2002.
• The Lions' middles have had a lot of success against Michigan State during their careers. Both Serena Gray and Kaitlyn Hord averaged 2.2 kills/set and 1.3 blocks/set in their first three matchups with the Spartans. Gray hit .515, while Hord hit .395.
FITZPATRICK HEATING UP FROM THE SERVICE LINE
• Freshman Annie Cate Fitzpatrick has been on a tear from the service line as of late, totaling 10 aces over the past four matches. Those four matches included 14 sets, giving her 0.71 aces/set during that stretch.
• Fitzpatrick had just five aces in the team's first eight matches, and four of those came in one match.
• She currently leads the team with 15 aces.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Big Ten Setter of the Week (1) – Gabby Blossom (3/15)
Penn State Student-Athlete of the Week (1) – Gabby Blossom (3/17)
BIG TEN LEADS WAY IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Six Big Ten teams appeared in the top 12 of the most recent AVCA national rankings — No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 10 Purdue and No. 12 Penn State.
UP NEXT
• Penn State is home for a two-match series against No. 1 Wisconsin on March 26-27. Both matches will air live on Big Ten Network.
