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Penn State vs. Wisconsin

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Where: Rec Hall

When: Friday — 10-12-13 (8:30 p.m. ET)

Media: CBSsports.com GameTracker

The Buzz on Wisconsin. #19 Wisconsin (14-2 overall, 3-1 B1G), is on the road this weekend with a Friday night visit to Columbus Ohio, where they will take on #14 Ohio State (14-2, 2-2 B1G), before heading on to State College to play Penn State. The Badgers #19 ranking is their highest since a #19 ranking on October 13, 2008. The NCAA released it’s first RPI ranking on October 7th, with Wisconsin coming in at #13 (Penn State ranked #5)(for the complete RPI rankings, Click Here).

Key offensive players for Wisconsin include 6-4 Jr. OH Ellen Chapman (3.40 kills/set), 6-0 Jr. S/OH Courtney Thomas (2.64 kills/set), 5-11 RS Jr. MB Dominique Thomas (2.48 kills/set) and 5-7 Jr. OH/DS Deme Morales (2.34 kills/set). Defensive leaders include 5-6 So. L Taylor Morey (3.92 digs/set), 5-8 Sr. DS/L Annemarie Hickey (2.89 digs/set), 6-2 Fr. setter Lauren Carlini (2.88 digs/set), Thomas (2.70 digs/set) and Morales (2.31 digs/set).

The Buzz on Penn State: Before Wednesday night’s match, we said that for Penn State to win, 6-1 Sr. OH Deja McClendon and 6-2 So. OH Megan Courtney needed to rebound from tough outings against Purdue and 6-4 Sr. RS/Opp A. Scott needed to continue getting back to her 2012 performance level. Scott led the Nittany Lions with 25 kills — her best this year (.274 attack %), McClendon had 14 kills and 16 digs (and four blocks, including two solo), but, on a night when there were very few stellar hitting efforts, hit only .212. Courtney had 10 kills but hit only .125 — although she also registered a career-best 22 digs! A bright spot for Penn State was the play of 6-6 Sr. MH Katie Slay, whose 16 kills tied her career-best). She also totaled 10 blocks.

It was a hard-fought match, and we think some people (including Minnesota fans) are underestimating the Gophers and how tough they can play. But the match also highlights some areas in which the Nittany Lions have room to improve (transition defense and inconsistent serving, to name two).

To date, Penn State has been led up front by 5-11 Jr. setter Micha Hancock with 10.80 assists/set, 0.94 kills/set (.394 attack %), .74 aces/set, 1.96 digs/set, and .48 blocks/set; 6-4 Sr. Opposite Ariel Scott with 3.33 kills/set (.279 attack %) and .79 blocks/set; 6-1 Sr. OH Deja McClendon with 2.51 kills/set (.252 attack %), 2.57 digs/set, and .58 blocks/set; 6-2 So. S/OH Megan Courtney with 2.57 kills/set (.326 attack %), 2.30 digs/set, and .70 blocks/set; 6-6 Sr. MH Katie Slay with 2.20 kills/set (.459 attack %), and 1.52 blocks/set; and 6-2 Jr. MB Nia Grant with 1.77 kills/set (.372 attack %), and.62 blocks/set. Anchoring the back row have been 5-6 Jr. libero Dom Gonzalez (3.31 digs/set), 5-6 Jr. DS Lacey Fuller (1.17 digs/set), and 5-6 So. serving specialist Kendall Pierce.