Nittany Digs: Women extend streak to 108

Penn State women's volleyball hasn't lost
in Rec Hall since 2005. (Photo: Steve Manuel)

Penn State women's volleyball is quickly separating itself from any other college sports dynasty. Ask the players and coaches--particularly head coach Russ Rose--and they'll surely tell you all the right things. But it's starting to morph into a monster, as we're all left to wonder "when will they ever lose again?"

When that happens, we'll deal with it then. For now, we'll keep you in the loop with this new weekly series "Nittany Digs," which will cover both men's and women's Penn State volleyball. If you're a die-hard PSU volleyball fan, I highly recommend checking out Dig Nittany Volleyball, a fantastic, independent blog dedicated to two of Penn State's most dominant teams.



Big Ten Icon

Former Nittany Lion women's volleyball player Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) has been named the No. 49 Big Ten Icon, by the Big Ten Network, as one of the top 50 student-athletes in Big Ten history. Hodge was one of two icons, the other being legendary Iowa wrestler Tom Brands.

Big Ten Icons, presented by Discover, is the Big Ten Network's most ambitious multiplatform initiative to date. The program is counting down the top 50 student-athletes in Big Ten history based solely on their collegiate careers. Hodge and Brands represent the first two Icons to be named in the series.

Big Ten Freshman of the Week

Freshman outside hitter Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week, conference officials announced Monday. It is McClendon's first career honor. She shares this week's honor with Illinois libero Jennifer Bonilla.

McClendon helped guide the Nittany Lions to sweeps of Seton Hall, Colgate and VCU this past weekend in the Hampton Inn Classic. In her Rec Hall debut, McClendon started in all three matches and led the team with 37 kills, averaging 4.11 kills per set on .464 hitting for the weekend. She also contributed one ace, 16 digs (1.78 digs per set) and six total blocks (0.67 blocks per set). Against Seton Hall, McClendon led all players with 14 kills and was second on the team with seven digs. On Saturday versus the Raiders, she was the only player with double-digit kills with 10 and tied for second on the team with four blocks. She once again led the team in kills against VCU with 13 and registered a .524 attack percentage. McClendon was named to the Hampton Inn Classic All-Tournament Team for her efforts.

Carolina Classic
8/27-8/28 - Chapel Hill, NC

No. 1 PSU vs. North Carolina - W, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-16)

Senior Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) led the Nittany Lions with nine kills and also tallied 11 digs. Freshman Deja McClendon (Ridgewood, N.J.) had eight kills and senior Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) added seven. Wilson contributed a team-best seven blocks, while senior Fatima Balza (Merida, Venezuela) and McCledon put up six apiece. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter (Mechanicsville, Va.) dished out 23 assists, had six digs and four blocks. Senior libero Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) led the Lions with 19 digs.

No. 1 PSU vs. Villanova - W, 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-10)

Freshman Deja McClendon (Ridgewood, N.J.) led the Nittany Lions with 13 kills on .414 hitting. Senior Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) was second on the team with eight kills. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter (Mechanicsville, Va.) was the starting setter and dished out 25 assists and tied for second on the team with six digs. Junior libero Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) has four aces and ateam-best 15 digs. Senior Fatima Balza (Merida, Venezuela) and McClendon had five blocks eight, while Brown had four.

No. 1 PSU vs. Campbell - W, 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-16)

Offensively senior Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) posted a career-best 19 kills on .679 hitting. Senior Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) also had double-digit kills with 11 on .647 hitting, while freshman Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) was third on the team with eight. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter (Mechanicsville, Va.) was the starting setter and contributed 25 assists, six digs and two kills. Senior libero Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) registered 19 digs and a career-high six aces. Wilson led the Nittany Lions in blocks with six and sophomore Katie Kabbes (Raleigh, N.C.) was second on the team with four.

Hampton Inn Classic
9/3-9/4 - University Park, PA

No. 1 PSU vs Seton Hall - W, 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-20)

Freshman Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) led all players with 14 kills and was second on the team with seven digs. Senior Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) posted 11 kills on .667 hitting and led the Lions with four total blocks. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter (Mechanicsville, Va.) paced the PSU offense with 38 assists and senior Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) registered a match-high 13 digs.

No. 1 PSU vs. Colgate - W, 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-15)

Freshman Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) led the Nittany Lions (5-0) once again with 10 kills and tied for second on the team with four blocks. Senior Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) was second on the team with eight kills, while senior Fatima Balza (Merida, Venezuela) had seven kills on eight swings with only one error for a .750 hitting percentage. Balza led the team with a match-high seven total blocks. Sophomore Kristin Carpenter (Mechanicsville, Va.) and Mikinzie Moydell (Parker, Colo.) split time at setter. Carpenter dished out 13 assists, while Moydell had 23. Senior libero Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) finished the match with 11 digs and an ace.

No. 1 PSU vs. VCU - W, 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-12)

Seniors Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) and Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.), freshman Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.), VCU's Marisa Low, Colgate's Kaylee Dougherty and Seton Hall's Sarah Osmun made up the Hampton Inn Classic All-Tournament Team. Sophomore setter Kristin Carpenter (Mechanicsville, Va.) led a balanced offense attack with 39 assists. Three Nittany Lions tallied double-digit kills, including McClendon and junior Katie Kabbes (Raleigh, N.C.) who had 13 kills apiece, and Brown who had 12. Senior libero Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) had a match-high 17 digs, while freshman Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.) posted a team-best four blocks.

Up next...
Penn State is back on the road next weekend at the Nike Big Four Volleyball Classic where they will take on Florida on Friday, Sept. 10 and either Texas or Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 11.

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