UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 14 Penn State women's volleyball is set for a challenging weekend as it goes on the road to play two nationally-ranked teams from the Big Ten. The Lions will travel to play No. 12 Minnesota on Friday at 7 p.m. (ET) and play at No. 3 Wisconsin on Saturday at 7 p.m. (ET). Both matches will air live on Big Ten Network.
Friday, Oct. 22
7 p.m. (ET) | No. 14 Penn State (13-5, 6-2 B1G) at No. 12 Minnesota (11-5, 6-2 B1G) | Live Stats | BTN
Saturday, Oct. 23
7 p.m. (ET) | No. 14 Penn State (13-5, 6-2 B1G) at No. 13 Wisconsin (15-1, 7-1 B1G) | Live Stats | BTN
SERIES HISTORY - MINNESOTA
• Penn State is 48-14 all-time against Minnesota in a series that began in 1983.
• The Gophers have won three-straight matches in the series, including both matchups in Minneapolis last season. Two of those matches went four sets, while one went five sets.
• Penn State is 20-10 against Minnesota in matches played in Minneapolis.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
• Minnesota, the 12th-ranked team in the country, is 11-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten after winning three straight matches against Michigan State (3-1), Northwestern (3-0), and Indiana (3-0).
• Senior opposite Stephanie Samedy is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year. She is the Big Ten's active leader in kills with 1,756.
• Samedy is utilized more than any player in the Big Ten, averaging 12.33 attacks/set. She also ranks first in kills/set (4.67) and points/set (5.22).
SERIES HISTORY - WISCONSIN
• Penn State is 49-10 all-time against Wisconsin in a series that began in 1986.
• The Lions won the most recent matchup with a reverse sweep at Rec Hall in 2019.
• Penn State is 19-8 all-time against Wisconsin in matches played in Madison.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
• Wisconsin, the third-ranked team in the nation, is 15-1 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten after seven straight wins against conference opponents. Those wins came after a loss to Maryland in the team's Big Ten opener.
• Senior middle blocker Dana Rettke was the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year.
• Rettke currently ranks fourth in the nation in hitting percentage at .488. Senior setter Sydney Hilley leads the nation in assists/set at 12.11.
A LOOK AT THE BIG TEN STANDINGS
• Penn State sits in a three-way tie with Minnesota and Ohio State for third place in the Big Ten. Nebraska is the lone unbeaten team at 9-0, while Wisconsin is second at 7-1.
• There are four matches this weekend that feature teams in the top five of the standings against each other.
TOP WEEKEND MATCHUPS
Friday - Penn State at Minnesota - 7 p.m.
Friday - Ohio State at Wisconsin - 9 p.m.
Saturday - Penn State at Wisconsin - 7 p.m.
Sunday - Ohio State at Minnesota - 5 p.m.
NATIONAL RANKINGS STREAK
• Penn State has been ranked in 496 consecutive AVCA Coaches Polls.
• The Lions have appeared in every poll since the final rankings of the 1988 season.
LAST TIME OUT
• Penn State took a 2-1 lead but couldn't close out the match in a 3-2 loss on the road to then-No. 6 Purdue on Saturday.
• Four Penn State seniors had big matches in a losing effort against the Boilermakers. Kaitlyn Hord totaled a career-high 20 kills on .500 hitting, Jenna Hampton finished with a career-high 26 digs, Gabby Blossom posted a double-double while matching career highs in both assists (58) and digs (20), and Jonni Parker tallied a team-high 23 kills.
• The Lions had two matches on the weekend, Prior to the loss at Purdue, they defeated Rutgers 3-1 at Rec Hall.
WEEKLY AWARDS
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (1) -- Jonni Parker (9/6)
• Big Ten Setter of the Week (2) -- Gabby Blossom (9/27, 10/18)
UP NEXT
• Penn State is at Rec Hall for a pair of matches. The Lions host Maryland on Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m., and Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m.