Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2015 16:24:22 GMT -5
Final Edit and Additions made: 5:54 am on 11/21/15.
Next on the schedule is Maryland at Rec Hall on Saturday Nov. 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm E.T. on BTN+.
Penn State is looking to bounce back tomorrow from 2 consecutive losses against MN (3-0) and MI (3-1).
Penn State has earned 19 of its 24 victories this year by way of a 3-0 sweep.
PSU moved to 9-2 this year against teams ranked within the Top 25 of the AVCA Coaches' Poll.
Penn State has won its last 18 straight matches against Maryland.
The Terrapins' current record is 13-18 overall and 3-14 in the B1G, although, they have been playing better as of late with a 3-0 sweep at Ohio State.
Maryland also took the 1st set off Penn State last time they played on 11/05/15.
Sideout Stats for Penn State:
Statistically, Penn State has not been getting blown out in the matches they've lost. The most notable statistic to prove that is the sideout %. I have updated the Conference-Only Sideout Stats for Penn State, which now includes all conference-only matches.
In the matches they've lost, PSU suffered a significant decline in their sideout % vs their season average. Although, their opponents' sideout % has not been much better, usually within 3%. Only the MN match was off by a 9% differential. In the MI match, PSU had a better overall sideout %. This means that PSU is still in these matches. A marginal improvement in the serve-receive could mean the difference between winning and losing some sets. Again, if you win the sideout battle in a game/set, you win that game/set. Coach Rose said that his team is built on being able to sideout efficiently and Karch Kiraly said a good sideout percentage is somewhere around 65%.
Click on the thumbnail icon below to open a larger graphic.
Comparison of Stats:
I have compiled a stat chart for both Penn State vs Maryland, with conference-only matches.
I've added the kills/set differential as a relevant stat, which is similar to aces/set in that both are offensive stats but don't include errors. The chart shows a significant differential in most stats with the exception of aces/set, which is pretty even between the two. Maryland is one of the best serving teams in the conference and PSU has been struggling in the category.
The only thing I'm going to comment on this weekend is that the statistics mean nothing if the team is not mentally in the game.
From my observations, PSU is struggling with mental errors and communication as the season wears on. This could be caused by several factors.
My guess is it's lack of senior leadership; there are only 2 seniors in the starting rotation and all the others are sophomores. This is a young team.
Click on the thumbnail icon below to open a larger graphic.
1st time these teams played at Maryland on 11/05/15:
PSU had 51 kills vs 47 for MD and had an impressive .343 hitting clip vs .207 for MD.
PSU outblocked MD 11 to 5 and outdug MD 43 to 37. Assists and aces were fairly even.
Difference makers - MD:
MD has some quality hitters, though, who can really push PSU.
Adreene Elliott and Liz Twilley are averaging 3.95 and 3.00 kills/set, respectively (conference play).
The other 3 starting hitters are only averaging a combined 5 kills/set
Angel Gaskin 3
Hailey Murray 1.5
Ashlyn MacGregor 1.4
So you can bet the PSU block will key in on Elliott and Twilley.
Difference makers - PSU:
Penn State has a much more balanced attached, which they maintained even during their losses.
Three Nittany Lions put down double figure kills for the seventh time this season, including in the losses to MN and MI.
This makes it harder for teams to key in on one player to block. However, it seems Megan Courtney has been tipping a lot.
Even when she can take a swing, she's been sending free balls over, which begs the question, is she 100% since her injury?
Player name Avg kills/set (conference-only)
Haleigh Washington 2.65
Aiyana Whitney 3.03
Simone Lee 2.16
Megan Courtney 3.20
Ali Frantti 2.46
Serving (Key for MD):
Maryland has 154 total service aces on the season, 12 more than the next team.
Maryland leads the conference with 1.3 service aces/set.
They will look to take advantage of PSU here, as PSU has really struggled this year with their serve-receive.
MD's serve leader is senior Adreene Elliott with 0.44 aces/set.
Three other Terps are averaging at least 0.20 service aces per set:
Kelsey Wicinski (0.24), Abigail Bentz (0.22) and Amy Dion (0.21).
PSU is in the middle of the pack with 1.0 service aces/set.
Weiskircher leads PSU with 0.35 aces/set with Washington next at 0.24 aces/set.
Next on the schedule is Maryland at Rec Hall on Saturday Nov. 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm E.T. on BTN+.
Penn State is looking to bounce back tomorrow from 2 consecutive losses against MN (3-0) and MI (3-1).
Penn State has earned 19 of its 24 victories this year by way of a 3-0 sweep.
PSU moved to 9-2 this year against teams ranked within the Top 25 of the AVCA Coaches' Poll.
Penn State has won its last 18 straight matches against Maryland.
The Terrapins' current record is 13-18 overall and 3-14 in the B1G, although, they have been playing better as of late with a 3-0 sweep at Ohio State.
Maryland also took the 1st set off Penn State last time they played on 11/05/15.
Sideout Stats for Penn State:
Statistically, Penn State has not been getting blown out in the matches they've lost. The most notable statistic to prove that is the sideout %. I have updated the Conference-Only Sideout Stats for Penn State, which now includes all conference-only matches.
In the matches they've lost, PSU suffered a significant decline in their sideout % vs their season average. Although, their opponents' sideout % has not been much better, usually within 3%. Only the MN match was off by a 9% differential. In the MI match, PSU had a better overall sideout %. This means that PSU is still in these matches. A marginal improvement in the serve-receive could mean the difference between winning and losing some sets. Again, if you win the sideout battle in a game/set, you win that game/set. Coach Rose said that his team is built on being able to sideout efficiently and Karch Kiraly said a good sideout percentage is somewhere around 65%.
Click on the thumbnail icon below to open a larger graphic.
Comparison of Stats:
I have compiled a stat chart for both Penn State vs Maryland, with conference-only matches.
I've added the kills/set differential as a relevant stat, which is similar to aces/set in that both are offensive stats but don't include errors. The chart shows a significant differential in most stats with the exception of aces/set, which is pretty even between the two. Maryland is one of the best serving teams in the conference and PSU has been struggling in the category.
The only thing I'm going to comment on this weekend is that the statistics mean nothing if the team is not mentally in the game.
From my observations, PSU is struggling with mental errors and communication as the season wears on. This could be caused by several factors.
My guess is it's lack of senior leadership; there are only 2 seniors in the starting rotation and all the others are sophomores. This is a young team.
Click on the thumbnail icon below to open a larger graphic.
1st time these teams played at Maryland on 11/05/15:
PSU had 51 kills vs 47 for MD and had an impressive .343 hitting clip vs .207 for MD.
PSU outblocked MD 11 to 5 and outdug MD 43 to 37. Assists and aces were fairly even.
Difference makers - MD:
MD has some quality hitters, though, who can really push PSU.
Adreene Elliott and Liz Twilley are averaging 3.95 and 3.00 kills/set, respectively (conference play).
The other 3 starting hitters are only averaging a combined 5 kills/set
Angel Gaskin 3
Hailey Murray 1.5
Ashlyn MacGregor 1.4
So you can bet the PSU block will key in on Elliott and Twilley.
Difference makers - PSU:
Penn State has a much more balanced attached, which they maintained even during their losses.
Three Nittany Lions put down double figure kills for the seventh time this season, including in the losses to MN and MI.
This makes it harder for teams to key in on one player to block. However, it seems Megan Courtney has been tipping a lot.
Even when she can take a swing, she's been sending free balls over, which begs the question, is she 100% since her injury?
Player name Avg kills/set (conference-only)
Haleigh Washington 2.65
Aiyana Whitney 3.03
Simone Lee 2.16
Megan Courtney 3.20
Ali Frantti 2.46
Serving (Key for MD):
Maryland has 154 total service aces on the season, 12 more than the next team.
Maryland leads the conference with 1.3 service aces/set.
They will look to take advantage of PSU here, as PSU has really struggled this year with their serve-receive.
MD's serve leader is senior Adreene Elliott with 0.44 aces/set.
Three other Terps are averaging at least 0.20 service aces per set:
Kelsey Wicinski (0.24), Abigail Bentz (0.22) and Amy Dion (0.21).
PSU is in the middle of the pack with 1.0 service aces/set.
Weiskircher leads PSU with 0.35 aces/set with Washington next at 0.24 aces/set.
Our entire staff just perked up their ears at the possibility of a kindred spirit.
