When: Friday, September 10, 2010 7:30 p.m. ET
Live Webcast: Live Video
Live Stats: GameTracker

Last December, when Penn State met Florida in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, the question from most fans (not Russ Rose, the Penn State staff, or the players — we believe that they are much more sensible than fans) was not whether Penn State would win, but whether they would sweep the Gators.  Playing in Gainseville for the first time since 2003 (a loss in the Regional Final), Penn State (led by Sr. OH Megan Hodge with a match-high 20 kills) won three straight sets, 25-12, 25-18, 25-21. 

This year, the questions are somewhat different.  With all-American Alisha Glass gone (to become the starting setter on the U.S. National Team) Penn State fans are wondering whether either of this year’s top two setters  — sophomore Kristin Carpenter (So. S, 9.59 aps, 2.12 dps) or Freshman Mikinzie Moydell will rise to the level needed to defeat a top-flight opponent like Florida.  This view says (not unreasonably) that even with the returning firepower of First Team AVCA All Americans Blair Brown , (Sr., Opp., 3.56kps, .345 hit %, 2.00 dps, 1.06 bps) and Arielle Wilson, (Sr., MH, 2.67 kps, .472 hit %, 1.22 bps), and standout defender Fatima Balza (Sr., MH, 1.69 bps, 1.15 kps) returning, along with backrow stalwarts Alyssa D’Errico (Sr., L, 5.22 dps, 0.94 saps) and Cathy Quilico, and outstanding Freshman Deja McClendon (Fr., OH, 3.67 kps, .413 hit %), either Carpenter or Moydell will have to step up.

Other Penn State fans focus more on how the loss of Megan Hodge,  Alisha Glass and the injured Darcy Dorton will affect the team.  This view says questions whether this Penn State team, at this point in the season, has the experience and cohesiveness to challenge a top-four team like Florida.  Despite the great job Carpenter has done so far stepping in at setter, and the undeniable talent of Brown, Wilson & Company, these fans take the Glass Half Empty point of view: these returning stars are indeed phenominal players, but without  Hodge, Glass, and Dorton, they are “diminshed” — those three players simply made everyone else that much better.  Without them, opponents can concentrate on defending Brown and Wilson (though Deja McClendon might take issue with that, as might Katie Kabbes  — who has played solidly since her admittedly terrible, statistically speaking, opening weekend). 

A similar, but slightly different view focuses more on the inexperience at key positions — not that the talent that was lost from last season (though the two concepts are obviously related).  That view says  that players like Carpenter, Moydell, and McClendon haven’t played enough, haven’t played enough with this team, and haven’t played against such a tough opponent in such a pressure-filled atmosphere.  They point to Florida’s (justifiable) confidence, the Gator’s victory over Nebraska at Nebraska (with wins over two other ranked teams) and the undeniable incentive of beating the  No. 1-ranked team and bring  ending The Streak.

For my part, I’ll be surprised — pleasantly so, but surprised nonetheless — if Penn State wins both its matches this weekend.  I won’t be shocked — though I’ll be disappointed — if they go 0-2.   Count me in the camp that says sure, Brown, Wilson, McClendon, D’Errico, Quilico, and Carpenter bring their “A” games, but I’m also looking to Kabbes and Balza: they’re both veterans and they both played at Florida last season.  Now is their chance to shine.  

Attack Leaders - 2010

#	Name	Cl	SP	MP	MS	K	K/S	E	TA	Hit %
9	Blair Brown	4/ Sr.	123	37	37	521	4.24	132	1214	.320
18	Deja McClendon	1/ Fr.	122	37	37	418	3.43	112	925	.331
7	Arielle Wilson	4/ Sr.	123	37	37	334	2.72	60	645	.425
1	Ariel Scott	1/ Fr.	63	20	2	143	2.27	57	414	.208
2	Katie Kabbes	2/ Jr.	58	22	12	99	1.71	58	303	.135
3	Fatima Balza	4/ Sr.	81	31	26	96	1.19	23	189	.386
16	Katie Slay	1/ Fr.	52	23	11	54	1.04	12	104	.404
	Team		123	37	37	1764	14.34	486	4066	.314
	Opponents		123	37	37	1335	10.85	772	4243	.133

Blocking Leaders - 2010

#	Name	Cl	SP	MP	MS	BS	BA	TB	B/S	BE	BHE
7	Arielle Wilson	4/ Sr.	123	37	37	10	129	139	1.13	9	0
16	Katie Slay	1/ Fr.	52	23	11	9	74	83	1.60	3	3
3	Fatima Balza	4/ Sr.	81	31	26	7	101	108	1.33	3	5
9	Blair Brown	4/ Sr.	123	37	37	11	102	113	0.92	2	2
18	Deja McClendon	1/ Fr.	122	37	37	8	76	84	0.69	8	3
1	Ariel Scott	1/ Fr.	63	20	2	3	40	43	0.68	6	1
	Team		123	37	37	52	636	370.0	3.01	42	35
	Opponents		123	37	37	36	315	193.5	1.57	87	50

Set/Serve Leaders - 2010

#	Name	Cl	SP	MP	MS	A	A/S	SA	SA /S	SE
5	Kristin Carpenter	2/ So.	119	37	36	1371	11.52	14	0.12	34
12	Alyssa D'Errico	4/ Sr.	123	37	0	56	0.46	49	0.40	70
23	Ali Longo	1/ Fr.	64	29	0	2	0.03	20	0.31	18
18	Deja McClendon	1/ Fr.	122	37	37	15	0.12	20	0.16	44
14	Cathy Quilico	4/ Sr.	123	37	22	21	0.17	13	0.11	19
22	Mikinzie Moydell	1/ Fr.	11	8	1	73	6.64	1	0.09	2
	Team		123	37	37	1623	13.20	160	1.30	272
	Opponents		123	37	37	1247	10.14	96	0.78	206

Recept/Dig Leaders - 2010

#	Name	Cl	SP	MP	MS	RE	TA	Pct.	Dig	D/S
12	Alyssa D'Errico	4/ Sr.	123	37	0	26	611	0.957	507	4.12
14	Cathy Quilico	4/ Sr.	123	37	22	19	562	0.966	258	2.10
5	Kristin Carpenter	2/ So.	119	37	36	1	2	0.500	273	2.29
18	Deja McClendon	1/ Fr.	122	37	37	23	536	0.957	230	1.89
9	Blair Brown	4/ Sr.	123	37	37	0	32	1.000	281	2.28
23	Ali Longo	1/ Fr.	64	29	0	9	120	0.925	74	1.16
	Team		123	37	37	96	2074	0.954	1811	14.72
	Opponents		123	37	37	160	2661	0.940	1607	13.07