UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 10 Penn State women's volleyball continues its stretch of three matches in four days when it hosts No. 11 Purdue on Friday and Saturday at Rec Hall.
Friday's match is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Network+, while Saturday's match is at 2 p.m. on ESPNU.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday, March 5 | 7 p.m.
Watch ($) | Live Stats
Saturday, March 6 | 2 p.m.
ESPNU | Live Stats
OPENING NOTES
• Penn State is in the middle of another busy stretch of play against nationally-ranked opponents with three matches in a span of four days against teams in the most recent AVCA Poll.
• This stretch comes a little over a week after the Lions finished up a stretch of five matches in eight days, including three against nationally-ranked opponents.
• Saturday's match against Purdue will air live on ESPNU. It is Penn State's fourth TV match of the season. The Lions two matches against Minnesota and one against Illinois on Big Ten Network.
SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS
• Purdue is 8-4 following a six-match winning streak that includes two wins each over Michigan. Northwestern and Indiana.
• Seven of the Boilermakers 12 matches have gone just three sets. Five were wins, while two were losses.
• Purdue ranks third in the Big Ten in digs/set, averaging 15.28.
• Caitlyn Newton is one of the busiest players in the conference, ranking first in total attacks (538) and kills (176). She ranks fifth nationally in attacks/set (12.81).
SERIES HISTORY
• Penn State leads 57-7 in the all-time series with Purdue.
• The teams first played in 1981.
• The Lions have won 14 of the past 15 matches in the series dating back to 2010.
• Penn State won the most recent meeting 3-1 last season at Rec Hall.
• The Lions are 28-3 against the Boilermakers in matches played at Rec Hall.
• Kaitlyn Hord has averaged 9.5 kills and 4.5 blocks while hitting .372 in two career matches against Purdue. Jenna Hampton has averaged 8.7 digs in three matches against the Boilermakers.
BIG TEN LEADS WAY IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Six Big Ten teams appeared in the top 20 of the most recent AVCA national rankings — No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 5 Minnesota, No. 10 Penn State, No. 11 Purdue and No. 19 Ohio State.
SUCCESS AT REC HALL
• Penn State is 664-46 (.935) all-time at Rec Hall.
• The Lions are 306-28 (.916) against Big Ten opponents at Rec Hall and 358-18 (.952) against non-conference opponents.
UP NEXT
• Penn State hosts Rutgers for matches on March 12-13. The match on March 13 will air on Big Ten Network.
