Penn State vs. Michigan State
Where: Rec Hall
When: Friday — 9-27-13 (7:00 p.m. ET)
Media: TV: Big Ten Network – Student U; CBSSports.com GameTracker
The Buzz on Michigan State: Michigan State ended its pre-conference schedule with an 11-1 record, capturing the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational title with a 3-0 victory over Cincinnati (25-11, 25-14, 25-19), which extended its non-conference home winning streak to 18 matches and its 2013 season victory streak to nine matches.
The Spartans were picked #5 in the 2013 preseason Big Ten Volleyball Coaches poll (Penn State, the defending Big Ten Champion, was picked #1). Among the key returning Michigan State players is 6-1 Sr. OH Lauren Wicinski, who was a unanimous pre-season 2013 All-Big Ten selection (as was Penn State’s Ariel Scott) and who earned 2nd-Team AVCA All-America honors in 2012. Other key players include 5-4 Jr. libero Kori Moster, who was the 2012 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (but, in an oddity that still has us scratching our heads, only honorable mention All Big Ten) and a 2012 AVCA All-America honorable mention, 6-3 Sr. MB Alexis Mathews, 6-1 Jr. OH Taylor Galloway, 5-10 Sr. setter Kristen Kelsay, 6-4 Fr. MB Autumn Christenson, 6-2 Fr. MB Allyssah Fitterer, and 5-6 Jr. DS Ryian Hubbard.
The Buzz on Penn State: The Penn State Women’s Volleyball team (9-1, ranked #1 in the 9-23-13 AVCA poll) finished its pre-conference schedule with sweeps of Albany, Eastern Kentucky, and Yale in the Penn State Classic. They didn’t lose a set, but though all three opponents played hard, they clearly were overmatched.
This weekend’s foes — Michigan State and Michigan, are another story. As Russ Rose noted in an interview with Chelsea Howard, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer, “the next 10 weeks we are going to play two matches a week in a conference where we’re playing against people our size, so it’s a whole different situation.” And it doesn’t end there. Eight Big Ten teams are ranked in the AVCA top 25. Rose, with noticeable understatement, described it to Howard as “a pretty full schedule – that’s 18 of our 20 matches. What concerns me is how we’re going to handle that. We have some players that have a lot experience – some have won Big Ten championships and some have won national championships, so we’ll see if they do the things they have to do to become a better team. There’s a fire that exists that makes the team better than the individuals that are playing. That’s the component they have to work on themselves.”
Although Rose may question the “fire” component, he knows he has a lot of talented players. Just naming players who garnered All American or All Big Ten honors in 2012, the list includes 5-11 Jr. setter Micha Hancock (2012 AVCA 1st Team All-America, Volleyball Magazine 1st Team All-America, Big Ten Setter of the Year, and All-Big Ten); 6-4 Sr. Opposite Ariel Scott (2012 AVCA 1st Team All-America, Volleyball Magazine 1st Team All-America, Big Ten Player of the Year, and Unanimous All-Big Ten); 6-1 Sr. OH Deja McClendon (2012 AVCA 3rd Team All-America, Volleyball Magazine 2nd Team All-America, and Unanimous All-Big Ten); 6-2 So. S/OH Megan Courtney (AVCA Mideast Region Freshman of the Year, Unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year); and 6-6 Sr. MH Katie Slay (AVCA 2nd Team All-America, Volleyball Magazine 2nd Team All-America, All-Big Ten). Plus, 6-2 Jr. MB Nia Grant and 5-6 Jr. libero Dom Gonzalez are returning starters, and 6-2 OH/Opp Paulina Prieto Cerame and 6-5 OH/Opp/MH Aiyana Whitney — both highly-touted players who redshirted in 2012 —have joined the team and have seen playing time, as have 6-2 Sr. OH Maddie Martin, 5-6 Jr. DS Lacey Fuller, and 5-6 So. DS Kendall Pierce.
Stat Joust
Michigan State Stats
Overall record: 11-1 Conf: 0-0 Home: 5-0 Away: 2-0 Neutral: 4-1
|
RECEPT | DIG | BLOCKING | POINTS | ||||||||||||
## | Player | SP | RE | TA | Pct | Dig | Dig/Set | BS | BA | Total | Blk/Set | BE | BHE | Points | Pts/Set |
15 | Wicinski, Lauren | 39 | 11 | 257 | .957 | 69 | 1.77 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 0.67 | 5 | 0 | 206.0 | 5.28 |
18 | Mathews, Alexis | 39 | 1 | 1 | .000 | 7 | 0.18 | 4 | 47 | 51 | 1.31 | 5 | 0 | 128.5 | 3.29 |
9 | Galloway, Taylor | 32 | 3 | 126 | .976 | 74 | 2.31 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 0.38 | 5 | 0 | 89.0 | 2.78 |
3 | Christenson, Autumn | 33 | 0 | 5 | 1.000 | 13 | 0.39 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 0.55 | 3 | 0 | 60.5 | 1.83 |
10 | Kuipers, Kelsey | 35 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 4 | 0.11 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 0.66 | 2 | 1 | 59.5 | 1.70 |
6 | Fitterer, Allyssah | 34 | 0 | 8 | 1.000 | 9 | 0.26 | 5 | 25 | 30 | 0.88 | 2 | 0 | 64.5 | 1.90 |
14 | White, Jazmine | 23 | 0 | 6 | 1.000 | 6 | 0.26 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 0.83 | 2 | 0 | 42.0 | 1.83 |
11 | Reinig, Chloe | 6 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0.17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 20.5 | 3.42 |
12 | Kelsay, Kristen | 40 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 72 | 1.80 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 23.5 | 0.59 |
8 | Scott, Ebony | 6 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.50 | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | 0.83 |
16 | Halloran, Maggie | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.50 | 3 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.00 |
1 | Moster,Kori | 40 | 10 | 258 | .961 | 178 | 4.45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 1 | 13.0 | 0.32 |
7 | Hubbard, Ryian | 38 | 1 | 6 | .833 | 47 | 1.24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 5 | 15.0 | 0.39 |
4 | Peterson, Halle | 7 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0.14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.00 |
2 | Muir, Kristen | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | 10 | 0.77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.08 |
TEAM | 10 | ||||||||||||||
MICHIGAN STATE…… | 40 | 36 | 683 | .947 | 491 | 12.27 | 27 | 164 | 109.0 | 2.72 | 29 | 7 | 732.0 | 18.30 | |
Opponents……….. | 40 | 72 | 857 | .916 | 446 | 11.15 | 13 | 123 | 74.5 | 1.86 | 18 | 7 | 492.5 | 12.31 |
Penn State Stats
Attack Leaders - 2013 (Final)
# | Name | Cl | SP | MP | MS | K | K/S | AE | TA | % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scott, Ariel | 4/Sr. | 115 | 35 | 31 | 383 | 3.33 | 103 | 971 | .288 |
18 | McClendon, Deja | 4/Sr. | 126 | 36 | 36 | 378 | 3.00 | 117 | 953 | .274 |
17 | Courtney, Megan | 2/So. | 120 | 35 | 34 | 297 | 2.47 | 96 | 740 | .272 |
16 | Slay, Katie | 4/Sr. | 127 | 36 | 36 | 274 | 2.16 | 54 | 531 | .414 |
7 | Grant, Nia | 3/Jr. | 118 | 35 | 33 | 208 | 1.76 | 64 | 411 | .350 |
12 | Hancock, Micha | 3/Jr. | 127 | 36 | 36 | 129 | 1.02 | 36 | 281 | .331 |
Team | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 1814 | 14.28 | 523 | 4231 | .305 | |
Opponents | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 1367 | 10.76 | 776 | 4270 | .138 |
Setting Leaders - 2013 (Final)
# | Name | Class | SP | MP | MS | Asst | Asst/ Set | TA | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Hancock, Micha | 3/Jr. | 127 | 36 | 36 | 1425 | 11.22 | 2999 | .475 |
7 | Grant, Nia | 3/Jr. | 118 | 35 | 33 | 10 | 0.08 | 47 | .213 |
4 | Gonzalez, Dominique | 3/Jr. | 127 | 36 | 0 | 91 | 0.72 | 339 | .268 |
33 | Fuller, Lacey | 3/Jr. | 118 | 36 | 0 | 9 | 0.08 | 50 | .180 |
3 | Pierce, Kendall | 2/So. | 83 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0.01 | 5 | .200 |
n/a | Team | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 1669 | 13.14 | 4030 | .414 |
n/a | Opponents | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 1296 | 10.20 | 4233 | .306 |
Recept/Dig Leaders - 2013 (Final)
# | Name | Class | SP | MP | MS | RE | Rcpt TA | Rcpt Pct. | Digs | Digs /S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Gonzalez, Dominique | 3/Jr. | 127 | 36 | 0 | -- | 571 | .991 | 416 | 3.28 |
18 | McClendon, Deja | 4/Sr. | 126 | 36 | 36 | -- | 857 | .981 | 363 | 2.88 |
17 | Courtney, Megan | 2/So. | 120 | 35 | 34 | -- | 466 | .970 | 301 | 2.51 |
12 | Hancock, Micha | 3/Jr. | 127 | 36 | 36 | -- | 6 | .667 | 289 | 2.28 |
33 | Fuller, Lacey | 3/Jr. | 118 | 36 | 0 | -- | 27 | 1.000 | 141 | 1.19 |
Penn State Total | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 49 | 2061 | .976 | 1809 | 14.24 | |
Opponents | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 166 | 2736 | .939 | 1632 | 12.85 |
Blocking and Points Leaders - 2013 (Final)
# | Name | Cl | SP | MP | MS | BS | BA | TB | B/S | BE | Pts | Pts /S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scott, Ariel | 4/Sr. | 115 | 35 | 31 | 3 | 91 | 94 | 0.82 | 9 | 432.5 | 3.76 |
18 | McClendon, Deja | 4/Sr. | 126 | 36 | 36 | 22 | 55 | 77 | 0.61 | 6 | 438.5 | 3.48 |
16 | Slay, Katie | 4/Sr. | 127 | 36 | 36 | 30 | 177 | 207 | 1.63 | 19 | 392.5 | 3.09 |
17 | Courtney, Megan | 2/So. | 120 | 35 | 34 | 28 | 59 | 87 | 0.73 | 14 | 355.5 | 2.96 |
7 | Grant, Nia | 3/Jr. | 118 | 35 | 33 | 12 | 85 | 97 | 0.82 | 12 | 285.5 | 2.42 |
12 | Hancock, Micha | 3/Jr. | 127 | 36 | 36 | 5 | 69 | 74 | 0.58 | 8 | 250.5 | 1.97 |
Penn State | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 107 | 561 | 387.5 | 3.05 | 71 | 2367.5 | 18.64 | |
Opponents | n/a | 127 | 36 | 36 | 38 | 369 | 222.5 | 1.75 | 66 | 1638.5 | 12.90 |
Rosters
Michigan State Roster
No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Elig. | Hometown/Previous School | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kori Moster | L | 5-4 | JR | Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy | |||
2 | Kristen Muir | DS | 5-7 | RS FR | Plymouth, Mich./Canton | |||
3 | Autumn Christenson | MB | 6-4 | FR | Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall | |||
4 | Halle Peterson | S | 5-10 | SO | Rockford, Mich./Rockford | |||
5 | Megan Tompkins | MB | 6-4 | FR | Petoskey, Mich./Petoskey | |||
6 | Allyssah Fitterer | MB | 6-2 | FR | Barrie, Ont./Assumption Catholic Secondary | |||
7 | Ryian Hubbard | DS | 5-6 | JR | Battle Creek, Mich./St. Philip Catholic Central | |||
8 | Ebony Scott | OH | 5-11 | SO | Powhatan, Va./Powhatan | |||
9 | Taylor Galloway | OH | 6-1 | JR | Portage, Mich./Portage Central | |||
10 | Kelsey Kuipers | MB | 6-1 | SR | Otsego, Mich./Otsego | |||
11 | Chloe Reinig | OH | 6-4 | FR | South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon | |||
12 | Kristen Kelsay | S | 5-10 | SR | Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis | |||
13 | Brooke Kranda | MB/OPP | 6-6 | FR | Westfield, Ind./Westfield | |||
14 | Jazmine White | MB/OH | 6-1 | JR | Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin Institute | |||
15 | Lauren Wicinski | OH | 6-1 | SR | Geneva, Ill./Northern Illinois | |||
16 | Maggie Halloran | MB/OH | 6-3 | SO | Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Skyline | |||
18 | Alexis Mathews | MB | 6-3 | SR | Detroit, Mich./Renaissance |
Penn State Roster
Updated as of 8-21-2013
Number | Name | Position | Year/Class | Height | HS (Club) | State |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scott, Ariel ![]() | RS | 4/Sr. | 6-4 | Immaculate Heart Academy (Team Complete Athlete) | NJ |
2 | Caraway, Lara ![]() | DS | 2/So. | 5-4 | Evans City (Renaissance) | PA |
3 | Pierce, Kendall ![]() | DS | 2/So. | 5-6 | Eden (Niagara Frontier Volleyball) | NY |
4 | Gonzalez, Dominique ![]() | DS | 3/Jr. | 5-6 | Sandra Day O'Connor/ (Alamo Volleyball) | TX |
6 | Martin, Maddie ![]() | OH | 4/Sr. | 6-2 | H.B. Plant (Tampa Bay Juniors) | FL |
7 | Grant, Nia ![]() | MB | 3/Jr. | 6-2 | Howland (Cleveland Renaissance Volleyball Club) | OH |
8 | Denny, Erica ![]() | MH | 3/Jr. (RS) | 6-5 | Grandview (Front Range Volleyball Club) | CO |
9 | Prieto-Cerame, Paulina ![]() | OH | 1/Fr. (RS) | 6-2 | Palmer Trinity (Boomers Volleyball) | FL |
10 | Muller, Carley ![]() | DS | 1/Fr. | 5-7 | Mira Costa (Tstreet Volleyball) | CA |
12 | Hancock, Micha ![]() | S | 3/Jr. | 5-11 | Edmond Memorial (Oklahoma Peak Performance) | OK |
13 | Krause, Taylor ![]() | DS/S | 1/Fr. | 5-6 | Parkland High (Synergy Volleyball) | PA |
14 | Whitney, Aiyana ![]() | OH | 2/So. (RS) | 6-4 | Northern Valley Regional (Downstate Juniors) | NJ |
15 | Harding, Maggie ![]() | DS | 4/Sr. | 5-6 | State College Area | PA |
16 | Slay, Katie ![]() | MH | 4/Sr. | 6-6 | Wakefield (Triangle Volleyball Club) | NC |
17 | Courtney, Megan ![]() | S/OH | 2/So. | 6-2 | Archbishop Alter (Team Z) | OH |
18 | McClendon, Deja ![]() | OH | 4/Sr. | 6-1 | Dupont Manual Magnet (KIVA) | KY |
23 | Robertson, Kelly ![]() | MB | 1/Fr. | 6-0 | Parkland High (Synergy Volleyball) | PA |
24 | Broerman, Laura ![]() | DS | 1/Fr. | 5-4 | St. Mary's (Colorado Juniors) | CO |
33 | Fuller, Lacey ![]() | DS | 3/Jr. | 5-6 | Torrey Pines (Coast Volleyball) | CA |