Penn State Classic Preview
With conference play looming, Penn State will look to improve upon its 8-0 start when they host the Penn State Classic at Rec Hall this weekend.
The Nittany Lions will return home following two road trips, which included the Big Ten/Pac 12 Challenge during which the Nittany Lions defeated No. 11 Stanford and No. 18 Oregon.
Fittingly, that No. 11 ranking now belongs to the blue and white who will have the chance to finish the weekend with 11 wins on the season.
Howard (Friday, 7 p.m.)
Penn State has had its success against Howard, defeating the Bison in all six meetings between the two programs.
Despite contributions from Jennifer Bolden and Dami Awojobi, who are first and second on the team in kills, Howard has failed to find offensive consistency this year.
Kayla Diaz has done her best to aid the struggling Bison, who are coming off a 2-2 appearance at the Fairfield Classic, contributing 14 service aces and 340 assists.
The New York native sits atop the MEAC averaging 10 assists per set, which has earned her MEAC Setter of the Week in back-to-back weeks.
The Bison have not been able to find consistency on defense either. Cimone Woodard, who has 23 blocks, and Essence Bell, who has 130 digs, are leading an otherwise porous Howard defense.
Howard could be in trouble as Penn State has yet to struggle scoring behind Kashauna Williams, Anjelina Starck and Zoe Weatherington, who all have contributed 80 or more kills.
Williams comes into this match after being named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for her efforts where she contributed 3.65 points, 3.20 kills and .70 blocks per set in Penn State’s two ranked victories.
UAlbany (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Despite finding success by winning three of their last four matches, the Great Danes have had a ruff start.
Posting just a 3-7 record, Albany has had scoring troubles this season, including four sets in which it failed to put up more than 15 points.
The offensive attack has been led by Alexa Harris and Anna Myhal. Harris is averaging 3.21 kills per set, fourth in the American East, and has totaled 127 kills. Myhal sits just short of 100 kills at 97.
Albany has struggled to record points in large part due to their opponents blocking them over 100 times.
The failure of the Great Dane offense to get through the front line of opposing defenses is something that the Nittany Lions will be looking to take advantage of.
The Nittany Lions rank seventh in the nation averaging 3.03 blocks per set. Allie Holland, who has played in 21 of the team’s 31 sets and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, is fifth in the nation averaging 1.71 blocks per set while Taylor Trammell leads the team with 43 blocks.
Coastal Carolina (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
Penn State’s last opponent of the weekend will be their best opponent of the weekend. Coastal Carolina enters the Penn State Classic as the only team, outside of the host, with a winning record.
Riding the hot hands of Paulina Perez Rosas and Agata Leziak, the Chanticleers find themselves on a three-game winning streak.
Rosas and Lesiak lead the way in kills, but it is Christina Nance and Rebeka Fucka who lead the way on the defensive side combining for 51 blocks.
The Chanticleers are the most well-rounded opponent of the weekend for the Nittany Lions, but if this weekend is like the Big Ten/Pac12 Challenge, the Nittany Lions will be ready for the test.
Under first year head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, the Nittany Lions have been doing the little things and not trying to do too much.
Seleisa Elisaia has 312 assists while Maddy Bilinvoic has 123 digs, these may not be the flashiest stats, but these separate the Nittany Lions from the rest.
Justin Ciavolella is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jtc5751@psu.edu.
