Another ho hum weekend at the Duke Invitational. Penn State swept Loyola (Md.), College of Charleston, and the host Duke Blue Devils, Penn State placed four players on the All Tournament Team, including Senior OH Megan Hodge (Tournament Most Valuable Player), Alyssa D’Errico (Outstanding Libero), Alisha Glass and Blair Brown. Also named to the team were Duke’s Becci Burling and Kellie Catanach, Ginny Phillips (College of Charleston), and Nina Camaioni (Loyola).
[Editor’s Note: Arielle Wilson recorded 24 kills, hit .583 and totaled 16 blocks for the tournament. She made our All Tournament team — not that we were asked.]
Oh, and the Nittany Lions extended their NCAA-record winning streak to 73 consecutive matches.
Penn State fans may have been pleased (particularly when the Nittany Lions went up 19-4 over Duke in the third set), but Head Coach Russ Rose saw plenty of room for improvement: “I thought we had different people playing well at different times,” he told Daily Collegian Staff Writer Jocelyn Syrstad . “We had a few examples throughout the three matches where people got a little casual and aren’t focused all the time. I thought our passing was good and it allowed Alisha (Glass) to do what she wanted to do offensively.”
Following the weekend matches, Penn State is hitting .440 as a team (Michigan State is second in the Big Ten at .315), led by Megan Hodge (4.32 kills/set, .475), Blair Brown (2.93 k/set, .397) and Freshman Darcy Dorton (2.71 k/set, .355). Penn State’s opponents are hitting an anemic .039.
The Nittany Lions are averaging 3.19 blocks/set, led by Arielle Wilson (1.48 b/set) Fatima Balza (1.44 b/s) and Blair Brown (1.06 b/s). Penn State’s opponents have managed 0.63 blocks/set.
Alyssa D’Errico leads Penn State with 3.70 digs/set , followed by Megan Hodge (2.68 digs/set) and Alisha Glass (2.07 digs/set).
Serving has been an area of concern for Coach Rose. The Nittany Lions currently are third-best in the Big Ten (behind Michigan – 2.00 sa/set, and Ohio State – 1.91 sa/set), averaging 1.70 services aces per set. Penn State’s opponents have averaged .044 sa/set. The Nittany Lions are led by Alyssa D’Errico (14 service aces with 16 service errors), Alisha Glass (eight service aces and three service errors), and Freshman Kristin Carpenter (six services aces with 14 service errors). Alisha Glass leads Penn State with 11.70 assists per set.
Big Ten Roundup
We’ve updated the records for the Big Ten (column at right), and will update the AVCA Poll standings when they are released today. We’ve also added a link to Big Ten team and individual stats (toolbar above, or click here: Big Ten Statistics . Here are some of the team leaders through 9-13-09:
Hitting %
1. PSU .440
2. MSU .315
3. OSU .294
4. MICH .291
5. MINN .284
Opp. Hitting %
1. PSU .039
2. NU .121
3. OSU .122
4. MINN .133
5. MICH .134
Blocks/Set
1. PSU 3.19
2. IND 2.91
3. MINN 2.91
4. MSU 2.86
5. NU 2.64
Service Aces/Set
1. MICH 2.00
2. OSU 1.91
3. PSU 1.70
4. IND 1.28
5. ILL 1.27
Upcoming Matches
Looking ahead, Nittany Lions face Temple University on Friday, 7:00 pm ET at McGonigle Hall in Philadelphia, returning to Rec Hall on Saturday to face St. Francis (PA) at 10:00 am ET, followed by Temple at 7:00 pm.