Post by bigfan on Nov 20, 2006 13:18:38 GMT -5
Penn State rebounds in sweep of Michigans
Women's volleyball won its matches against Michigan and Michigan State, 3-0
By Mark Viera
The No. 5 Penn State women's volleyball team swept Michigan State (30-24, 30-26, 30-23) on Friday and Michigan (30-27, 34-32, 30-14) on Saturday and regained a bit of control in matches away from Rec Hall.
"Anytime you can go on the road in the Big Ten and win two matches 3-0, you have to feel positive about the outcome of that," Penn State head coach Russ Rose said. "I thought we competed hard against Michigan State. I thought we played a much cleaner match against Michigan."
In their most recent road matches, the Nittany Lions (27-2, 16-2 Big Ten) scuffled and suffered their first losses of the season.
On Oct. 27, No. 10 Wisconsin swept the Lions in their last weekend road trip. And a mid-week match against No. 19 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, was Penn State's second loss of the season on Nov. 8.
So the goal for the journey to The Great Lakes State was to regain footing in unfriendly confines. And the general opinion is that a bit of confidence was gained.
"To win in two big places -- Michigan and Michigan State -- is important for the home stretch here," sophomore middle hitter Christa Harmotto said as the team readies for post-season play.
Penn State only hit .232 against Michigan State on Friday. Freshman outside hitter Megan Hodge had a team-high 13 kills on .139 hitting.
On Saturday against Michigan, the Lions got up early in the second game but got complacent and faded. They jumped out to a decisive 15-9 lead, but from there, got a bit too comfortable with their play.
"I think we get too hung up in the first half of the game, and that's when we can get ourselves in trouble," Harmotto said.
"We start to get overconfident with ourselves."
Michigan was able to battle back despite the early deficit and seized the lead of the game, 28-26. Penn State, a little rattled, was able to come through and took the game in extra points.
But in the third game, after Rose preached playing hard from whistle to whistle during the intermission, the Lions passed efficiently, made only three hitting errors and hit .462.
On the match, Penn State hit .434, led by outsides again. Hodge had 15 kills on .314 hitting and sophomore outside hitter Nicole Fawcett had 14 kills at a .500 clip.
It was the early start in the third game that helped propel Penn State to the win.
"It's important for this team to jump on an opposing team early," Harmotto said.
"That's where we get most of momentum and it carries on through the rest of the match."
Women's volleyball won its matches against Michigan and Michigan State, 3-0
By Mark Viera
The No. 5 Penn State women's volleyball team swept Michigan State (30-24, 30-26, 30-23) on Friday and Michigan (30-27, 34-32, 30-14) on Saturday and regained a bit of control in matches away from Rec Hall.
"Anytime you can go on the road in the Big Ten and win two matches 3-0, you have to feel positive about the outcome of that," Penn State head coach Russ Rose said. "I thought we competed hard against Michigan State. I thought we played a much cleaner match against Michigan."
In their most recent road matches, the Nittany Lions (27-2, 16-2 Big Ten) scuffled and suffered their first losses of the season.
On Oct. 27, No. 10 Wisconsin swept the Lions in their last weekend road trip. And a mid-week match against No. 19 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, was Penn State's second loss of the season on Nov. 8.
So the goal for the journey to The Great Lakes State was to regain footing in unfriendly confines. And the general opinion is that a bit of confidence was gained.
"To win in two big places -- Michigan and Michigan State -- is important for the home stretch here," sophomore middle hitter Christa Harmotto said as the team readies for post-season play.
Penn State only hit .232 against Michigan State on Friday. Freshman outside hitter Megan Hodge had a team-high 13 kills on .139 hitting.
On Saturday against Michigan, the Lions got up early in the second game but got complacent and faded. They jumped out to a decisive 15-9 lead, but from there, got a bit too comfortable with their play.
"I think we get too hung up in the first half of the game, and that's when we can get ourselves in trouble," Harmotto said.
"We start to get overconfident with ourselves."
Michigan was able to battle back despite the early deficit and seized the lead of the game, 28-26. Penn State, a little rattled, was able to come through and took the game in extra points.
But in the third game, after Rose preached playing hard from whistle to whistle during the intermission, the Lions passed efficiently, made only three hitting errors and hit .462.
On the match, Penn State hit .434, led by outsides again. Hodge had 15 kills on .314 hitting and sophomore outside hitter Nicole Fawcett had 14 kills at a .500 clip.
It was the early start in the third game that helped propel Penn State to the win.
"It's important for this team to jump on an opposing team early," Harmotto said.
"That's where we get most of momentum and it carries on through the rest of the match."