The Match: Ohio State (20-9, 8-8 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (23-4, 13-3 Big Ten)
When & Where: November 17, 2010, 7:00 p.m. ET.; Rec Hall
Media Coverage: GameTracker; Big Ten Network – Streaming Video
Match Snapshot
Having clawed their way into a tie for first place in the Big Ten with sweeps last weekend of Wisconsin and #9 Illinois, every one of their last four matches is a must-win for Penn State, and that is certainly true for tonight’s match against Ohio State.
- Ohio State
The Buckeyes are a solid team, and as Iowa’s victory over Michigan last weekend proved (or should have proved) to everyone in the Big Ten, on any given night. So past performances aside, the Nittany Lions would be ill-advised to take Ohio State lightly. On offense, the Buckeyes are led by 5-10 Sr. OH Katie Dull, who is averaging 4.15 points/set and 3.52 kills/set. 6-1 So. OH Emily Danks is second on the team with 3.22 points/set, and 6-3 Gr. OH Anna Szerszen is third with 2.95 points/set (and 2.51 kps). 6-2 Sr. MB Kelli Barhorst is averaging 2.29 kps, and leads the team with a .332 attack %. , and 5-10 Sr. MB Allie Schwarzwalder’s .302 attack % is second on the team. 5-10 Sr. S Betsy Hone is averaging 9.64 assists/set.
On defense, 5-5 Jr. L/DS Sarah Mignon leads the team with 3.50 digs/set, followed by Dull (1.79 digs/set) and Hone (1.54 digs/set). Allie Schwarzwalde’s 1.26 blocks/set is first on the Buckeyes, followed by 6-3 So. MB Mariah Booth’s 1.08 blocks/set.
As a team, Ohio State is hitting .264, while holding opponents to a .178 attack %.
- Penn State
For Penn State, 6-5 Sr. Opp. Blair Brown leads the team with 3.94 kills per set, followed by 6-1 Fr. OH Deja McClendon (3.39 kps) and 6-3 Sr. MH Arielle Wilson (2.74 kps). 5-6 So. S Kristin Carpenter is averaging 10.98 assists/set. On defense, 5-9 Sr. L Alyssa D’Errico leads the team with 3.86 digs/set, while Wilson is averaging 1.19 bps, 6-3 Sr. MH Fatima Balza averages 1.25 bps, and 6-6 Fr. MH Katie Slay is averaging 1.56 bps. We’ll be interested in seeing whether Katie Slay plays tonight, and whether 6-5 Fr. OH Ariel Scott continues to improve (whether coincidence or not, the Nittany Lions haven’t lost since she began playing on a regular basis).
For the season, Penn State is hitting .312 as a team, while holding their opponents to a .124 attack %.
Here’s the Buckeye’s 2010 Roster:
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Hometown (Prev School) | ||||||||||
| 2 | Barhorst, Kelli | MB | 6-2 | Jr. | Anna, Ohio (Anna) (Team Atlantis) | ||||||||||
| 10 | Booth, Mariah | MB | 6-3 | So. | Kennesaw, Ga. (Kennesaw Mountain) (A5) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Bowler, Kelsey | L/DS | 5-6 | So. | Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North) (Sports Performance) | ||||||||||
| 1 | Danks, Emily | OH | 6-1 | So. | Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock) (Austin Juniors) | ||||||||||
| 9 | DiSalvatore, Davionna | L/DS | 5-8 | Fr. | Clearwater, Fla. (Countryside) (Tampa Bay Jrs) | ||||||||||
| 16 | Dull, Katie | OH | 5-10 | Sr. | Solon, Ohio (Walsh Jesuit) (Akron-Canton Elite) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Halverson, Susan | L/DS | 5-8 | Sr. | Apple Valley, Minn. (Apple Valley) (Northern Lights) | ||||||||||
| 13 | Hone, Betsy | S | 5-10 | Sr. | Celina, Ohio (Celina) (Team Atlantis) | ||||||||||
| 11 | Leary, Kaitlyn | OH | 6-1 | Fr. | Parma, Ohio (Padua Franciscan) (Cleveland Volleyball Company) | ||||||||||
| 7 | Mignin, Sarah | L/DS | 5-5 | Jr. | Sylvania, Ohio (Northview) (Premier) | ||||||||||
| 8 | Otto, Marissa | L/DS | 5-8 | Fr. | Cincinnati, Ohio (Mt. Notre Dame) (Cincy Classics) | ||||||||||
| 15 | Peterson, Amanda | S | 6-0 | So. | Glen Ellyn, Ill. (Glenbard East) (Sports Performance) | ||||||||||
| 3 | Schwarzwalder, Allie | MB | 5-10 | Sr. | North Royalton, Ohio (North Royalton) (Akron-Canton Elite) | ||||||||||
| 17 | Schwarzwalder, Amy | OH | 6-3 | Fr. | North Royalton, Ohio (North Royalton) (Maverick) | ||||||||||
| 14 | Szerszen, Anna | OH | 6-3 | RGr. | Conflans Ste Hne, France (Lyce’e International) (IFVB) |
Here’s Penn State’s 2010 Roster:
