Russ and the Girls Set to Take on UCLA in NCAA Sweet 16
by Jeff Junstrom on Dec 9, 2011 3:30 PM EST
in Volleyball
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Serving off at 5p at Memorial Colesium in Lexington, KY, the No. 8 seeded Penn State women's volleyball team will take on the No. 9 seeded UCLA Bruins in a tough match for a young team. The match can be "seen" on ESPN3.com.
The Nittany Lions cruised through Liberty and Delaware in straight sets to make it to the regional semi-finals, and now face their first challenge on the quest for a five-peat. UCLA dropped UMES (Maryland-East Shore) in straight sets, but dropped a set before finishing off San Diego last weekend.
The other regional matchup pits top-ranked Texas against the hometown Kentucky Wildcats, and will take place shortly after the PSU-UCLA match ends. Stats, players, and some quality DigNittanyVolleyball analysis after the jump.
Penn State women's volleyball fans historically travel well, so seeing a crowd of Nittany Lions fans won't be too much of a surprise tonight. However, there will be some in attendance that will have traveled minutes away to watch one very special player. Front court star Deja McClendon is from the Louisville area, and is excited to play in-front of friends and family on such a large stage.
"It’s so nice," said McClendon, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter. "It’s nice to know that we’ll have support there. A lot of my graduating class and my family (will be there). I’m sure they’ll bring a whole crew down to Lexington."
McClendon, along with teammates Katie Slay and Ariel Scott, was recently named to the AVCA Mideast Region All-Region team. Another AVCA award winner was Micha Hancock, server and setter to the stars, who took home Rookie Freshman of the Year honors. Hancock, who is second in the country in aces per set and averages just under 10.5 assists per set, will be crucial to a PSU victory.
DigNittanyVolleyball, as per usual, has a great preview, some solid stat analysis, and the press conference recaps.
Feel free to use this as your open thread, normal rules apply.
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Good luck to the lady lions
I like the way things set up for them if they can just find a way to get through this weekend. UCLA scares me but they fall pretty low in digs per set which should benefit Penn State. They seem to usually do pretty well with teams whose main defense is getting blocks at the net. They have enough hitter to neutralize that. It’s teams who dig up everything that they struggle with. And they don’t seem to be a very tough serving team so that should help.
I'm sorry,
all I saw was “Russ and the girls”, clicked on the link, yet see no girls.
I must be in the wrong thread.
"my dad says Michigan used to be good"
The aforementioned Ms. Hancock.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Dec 9, 2011 4:39 PM EST up reply actions
Lady Lions match up nicely against UCLA
If / when we beat them, they will likely face scary good Texas team.
Thankfully she’s no longer there. I think Penn State can play with Texas only lost to them 3 2 earlier in the year, and it was a really close tight match.
And they outscored them in that match as well
Need to get some good serving, and blocks to set the tempo for the rest of the match
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
Destinee.
And she’s gone. Though being ranked No. 1, I’m sure they’ve replaced her, or attempted to.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Dec 9, 2011 4:39 PM EST up reply actions
This is Rose's time of year.
No one gave them a chance last year either.
It ain’t ovah til it’s ovah.
What the hell just happened?
Exactly
Russ and his staff are some of the best in the business at scouting other teams and exploiting their weaknesses. This was certainly evident in last years semi and finals, they destroyed those teams.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
OK. It's ovah.
Dammit.
What the hell just happened?
by Pete the Streak on Dec 9, 2011 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
ESPN3.
Still not sure if that’s real TV or internet TV. If you’re on Twitter, the must follows for the game are @PSUVolleyball and @SusanPSUSports.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Dec 9, 2011 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
So ESPN3 is an online feed.
And can be found here. I’m not sure if there is a subscription required (it loaded immediately for me).
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I was teasing in regards to ESPN.
I know ESPN3 is online and I will not go to their webpage for the time being
BOOM
McClendon
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
Gorgeous set by Hancock.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
indeed
#notactuallywatchingthematch
"my dad says Michigan used to be good"
by hbeach08 on Dec 9, 2011 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Impressive play by UCLA, but PSU takes the point.
4-1 PSU.
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Fantastic play by UCLA to get the ball back around the antenna.
Too bad.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
Whoever the color commentator is
loves the word “caliber”
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
I won't say that was the ugliest point ever.
But it was close. PSU takes it.
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Jennifer Hoffman, color commentator
You’re failing your audition.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
"Penn State's strength is not their blocking"
even though they have at least 3 or 4 points off of blocks.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
And we-re tied at 12.
PSU with too many unforced errors so far.
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UCLA is playing a different game of volleyball after the first 20 points.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
Yup. PSU wasn't playing great, but was able to get some points.
UCLA has turned it on.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Dec 9, 2011 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
The block is going up almost a half a second too early
what are they thinking?
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
UCLA got away with 4 hits
ref was generous to count their first hit as a block on that.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
21-16 UCLA.
Need a rally here. Starting to get out of hand this set.
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Terrible call. Wrong call.
Shouldn’t have called it even if it was a touch.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
5 service errors
lose by 5. Well.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
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Never thought I'd say this... but I miss Beth Mowins.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
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Yea this announcer is painful
Scott’s a great hitter but she needs to work on her block.
30 seconds later
So glad to see Scott get that point for the block because she’s worked so hard to become a good blocker.
Every close call going against PSU
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
Really feel like Penn State is out playing UCLA in this set. If not for the unforced errors I think they’d be winning by a handful of points.
Gives me hope for the next few sets but they really need to take this one, will be tough to come back from an 0 2 hole. I’m not sure my heart can take that either.
Good season for the team. Honestly with a team of all freshman and sophomores this was some what to be expected. Now they have a taste of what it takes to succeed at this level to use for next year.
Yep
The team I think the team lacked leadership this year. Hopefully someone steps up for next season.
by Vick In A Box on Dec 9, 2011 7:34 PM EST up reply actions
Actually, Dorton provided the spark occasionally throughout the season
so I’d peg her as the emotional leader… but Rose didn’t put her in today. Don’t know why. I guess she’s not good enough as compared to McClendon, Scott, Whitney, etc.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
She is still recovering from her injury it seems.
I am in Volleyball Band and she was never in for very long. Mostly clean up and occasionally to add emotional spark for the team.
Really no reason not to put her in at some point during the match yesterday
unless she was so injured that she couldn’t go. I don’t know.
What do you play?
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
Whenever she was in early in the year she looked rather slow.
As already said, it also probably had to do with the fact that she would’ve been replacing players who were doing fairly well. That being said, Slay didn’t do much of anything from what I saw.
Also, I play trumpet.
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