Post by nyline on Oct 15, 2015 15:01:48 GMT -5
We've posted match previews for Indiana (Friday) and Purdue (Saturday). Here's the link: Match Previews: Indiana and Purdue (Hoosier Favorite?) — with Stat Joust
And here's an excerpt:
And here's an excerpt:
Penn State fans are nervous — to an extent, for good reason, given the uncertain status of 6-2 Sr. OH Megan Courtney, who was helped off the court at the end of the 5th set in the 3-2 loss to Northwestern last Saturday.
But we Penn State fans really are a very spoiled bunch. After all, the Nittany Lions are ranked #5 in the latest AVCA poll, and are 15-2 overall (4-2 in the B1G). The team is averaging 3.09 blocks/set — fourth in NCAA D1 and first in the B1G. It has held its opponents to a .139 attack % — seventh nationally and first in the B1G. Penn State’s .291 team attack % ranks seventh in NCAA D1 and second in the B1G. So even though the team has plenty of room to improve, and even if Courtney misses some action, Penn State presents serious challenges for its opponents.
The concern probably stems more from the way Penn State has lost, rather than the fact that they have lost. Like losing to Nebraska in five, after taking the first two sets (which followed a five-set win over Minnesota — which also dropped the first two sets to Penn State.) And appearing to lack focus, or the ability to communicate at critical times in the match.
But that’s in the past. and we are hopeful the Nittany Lions will come out with renewed energy and purpose against Indiana and Purdue. No word yet on the status of Megan Courtney, who is now one of only eight Penn State Women’s Volleyball players to reach both the 1,000 career digs mark (1,038) and the 1,000 career kills mark (Deja McClendon accomplished the feat in 2013.) No word on who will fill her place if she’s unable to go. We’ll know soon enough.
In addition to Courtney, key players for the Nittany Lions have included 6-3 So. MB Haleigh Washington’s ( .454 attack % — 3rd in NCAA D1 and tops in the B1G; 1.53 blocks/set — 11th in D1 and second in the B1G), and 6-4 RS Sr. MB/RS (we don’t know where she’ll play this weekend) Aiyana Whitney (3.09 kills/set — reaching double digits in eight of her last nine matches.)
But we Penn State fans really are a very spoiled bunch. After all, the Nittany Lions are ranked #5 in the latest AVCA poll, and are 15-2 overall (4-2 in the B1G). The team is averaging 3.09 blocks/set — fourth in NCAA D1 and first in the B1G. It has held its opponents to a .139 attack % — seventh nationally and first in the B1G. Penn State’s .291 team attack % ranks seventh in NCAA D1 and second in the B1G. So even though the team has plenty of room to improve, and even if Courtney misses some action, Penn State presents serious challenges for its opponents.
The concern probably stems more from the way Penn State has lost, rather than the fact that they have lost. Like losing to Nebraska in five, after taking the first two sets (which followed a five-set win over Minnesota — which also dropped the first two sets to Penn State.) And appearing to lack focus, or the ability to communicate at critical times in the match.
But that’s in the past. and we are hopeful the Nittany Lions will come out with renewed energy and purpose against Indiana and Purdue. No word yet on the status of Megan Courtney, who is now one of only eight Penn State Women’s Volleyball players to reach both the 1,000 career digs mark (1,038) and the 1,000 career kills mark (Deja McClendon accomplished the feat in 2013.) No word on who will fill her place if she’s unable to go. We’ll know soon enough.
In addition to Courtney, key players for the Nittany Lions have included 6-3 So. MB Haleigh Washington’s ( .454 attack % — 3rd in NCAA D1 and tops in the B1G; 1.53 blocks/set — 11th in D1 and second in the B1G), and 6-4 RS Sr. MB/RS (we don’t know where she’ll play this weekend) Aiyana Whitney (3.09 kills/set — reaching double digits in eight of her last nine matches.)
