University Park, Pa. — The eighth-ranked and fourth-seeded Penn State women’s volleyball team (28-5) hosts Oklahoma (23-10) in the NCAA Regional Semifinals on Dec. 10 at Rec Hall. Action begins at 5 p.m. with a matchup between Missouri (22-10) and Duke (26-6) with Penn State meeting the Sooners at 7 p.m.
Live stats and live video will be available via links at GoPSUsports.com.
ALL SESSION tickets for the University Park Regional on Dec. 10-11 are also on sale NOW. They MUST also be purchased in advance at the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office or by calling 814-865-5555. All session tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for youth and students with a valid college or university ID and $8 for groups of 20 or more. SINGLE SESSION tickets for the University Park Regional will only be available at Rec Hall on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10-11, and are $10 for adults, $7 for youth and students and $5 for groups. The first 300 students with a valid Penn State ID get in free.
Nittany Lion Preview
The three-time defending national champion Penn State women’s volleyball team continues postseason play this weekend when it hosts Oklahoma in the NCAA Regional Semifinal on Friday, Dec. 10. The Nittany Lions are making their 22nd appearance in the Regional Semifinals. Penn State is 44-3 in NCAA matches at Rec Hall and 68-25 overall in tournament play.
The Nittany Lions improved to 28-5 overall after sweeping both Niagara and Virginia Tech in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 3-4. So far in 2010, three Nittany Lions are averaging 2.68 kills per set or more, including senior Blair Brown who leads the team with 4.10 kills per set. Freshman Deja McClendon is not far behind with 3.34 kills per set and senior Arielle Wilson is averaging 2.68 kills per set. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter has been the primary setter this season, averaging 11.29 assists per set. She has guided three of her primary hitters to a .318 hitting percentage or better. Senior libero Alyssa D’Errico has a team-high 4.09 digs per set, while there are three middle hitters averaging at least 1.12 blocks per set including Wilson (1.12 bps), senior Fatima Balza (1.34 bps) and freshman Katie Slay (1.58 bps).
Penn State vs. Oklahoma
Penn State is 1-0 against the Sooners. The Nittany Lions took on the Sooners in the Southwest Missouri Autumn Classic on Oct. 3, 1981. Penn State won, 2-0 (15-2, 15-3).
Scouting the Sooners
Oklahomaheads into NCAA Regional action with a 23-10 overall record. The Sooners defeated both Wichita State (3-0) and No. 22 Tulsa (3-2) at home to advance. OU is 2-7 this season against nationally-ranked opponents, including a win against then No. 14 Iowa State (3-1).
The Series vs. Possible Regional Final Opponents
Missouri
The Nittany Lions own a 5-0 record against Missouri dating back to 1984. Four of the five meetings between the two squads have been on a neutral court. The squads last met on a on Sept. 7, 2006 at the Texas Classic with Penn State winning, 3-0 (30-19, 30-21, 30-21).
Duke
Penn State is 9-0 all-time against the Blue Devils. Duke hosted Penn State in the Duke Invitational in 2009. The Nittany Lions defeated the Blue Devils, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-15), in Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Penn State Recap
The Nittany Lions improved to 28-5 after sweeping both Niagara and Virginia Tech in the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Brown led the Nittany Lions with 20 kills, averaging 3.33 kills per set, and Wilson was second on the team with 17. Carpenter dished out 63 assists, while D’Errico had a team-high 17 digs (2.83 digs per set). Wilson and freshman Ariel Scott were walls at the net with nine blocks apiece, averaging 1.50 blocks per set.
What’s Next?
Should the Nittany Lions defeat the Sooners, Penn State will advance to the Regional Final and meet the winner of the Duke/Missouri matchup. The winner of the University Park Regional Championship match will advance to the NCAA National Semifinals in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 16.