Jenna Hampton To Represent Penn State Women’s Volleyball In Japan

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Jenna Hampton will represent Penn State women’s volleyball on the 2019 Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour, which is headed to Japan June 14-26.

The sophomore defensive specialist from Tampa is the only Nittany Lion on the roster, but the program’s director of operations, Virginia Pham, who is entering her second season at Penn State, will be making the trip with her. Michigan’s Mark Rosen will serve as head coach, while Purdue’s Kathy Jewell will handle assistant coaching duties.

Hampton and the rest of the Big Ten delegates are scheduled to visit Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. When they aren’t competing in exhibitions, the group will have a chance to do some sightseeing at historic sites like Mt. Fuji and the Philosopher’s Walk. Ohio State, Nebraska, and Minnesota are the only schools from the conference without a representative.

Redshirt senior middle blocker Tori Gorrell most recently represented Penn State on a similar Big Ten volleyball excursion to the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy, and Austria prior to the 2017 season.

Hampton was one of only five Nittany Lions who played in all 34 matches in 2018. She tallied 189 digs and 27 service aces in her first season on campus, showcasing why she was such a highly touted recruit for head coach Russ Rose. Hampton is the clear heir apparent to Kendall White at libero once White graduates following this coming season.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 28-6 campaign in which they fell to eventual national champion Stanford in the Elite Eight. Although Penn State has yet to release its 2019 schedule, it appears the Nittany Lions will welcome the Cardinal to Rec Hall on Saturday, September 14 as part of the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge.

Speaking of Rec Hall, the famed venue is undergoing a slight transformation this offseason, as construction crews are currently hard at work laying out a brand new court. When Hampton returns to State College from her overseas voyage, she’ll likely have a newfound perspective on volleyball to share with her teammates while they enjoy their new digs and prepare for the fall.