Penn State Edges Past Purdue
A double-double day is always a good day on the volleyball court. This week Penn State’s Micha Hancock and Deja McClendon put up double digit stats in both digs and kills against Purdue this past Saturday. Katie Slay achieved a season high of 11 blocks and Dominique Gonzalez once again fulfilled her defensive specialist position with 14 digs.
The No. 5 Nittany Lions stole a win from No. 24 Purdue in a 5 game match. Each set began with a close score until one of the two teams decided to break away with a kill streak. The Boilermakers opened with a first set win, 25-16; Penn State responded with second and third set victories, 25-21 and 25-16. The fourth set, easily the most exciting of the five, was a point-by-point fight until the end. The score didn’t stretch more than three points until the very end. As the Boilermakers led the score 24-22, Penn State lost it at the end with an error behind the service line. In the fifth set, the team was efficient with their kills and held Purdue to 8 points as they climb to the top. The final set score was 15-8, allowing the Nittany Lions to take the match 3-2.
Adding this win to Penn State’s impressive record, they now stand No. 5 in the AVCA coach’s poll at 12-2 and 3-1 in the conference.
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Photo by gopsusports.com.
With multiple kills, digs, and blocks in each game, Penn State’s Deja McClendon finds herself near the top of the team’s stats per game. The outside hitter from Louisville, KY is a 6’1” senior with an impressive volleyball past. She achieved honors starting her freshman year including: AVCA Division I and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, AVCA Second Team All-American, NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player of the Year, the list goes on and on. Her achievements didn’t stop there, her sophomore year she moved to AVCA First Team All- American and junior year added Volleyball Magazine Second Team All- American to the list. She began her senior year as Preseason All Big Ten Honoree and her stats are further proof of her many deserved titles. Apart from her volleyball career, she studies communications at Penn State and has hopes to become a magazine editor one day.
McClendon and the rest of the team return home this Wednesday, September 9th as they face No. 8 Minnesota. The game will be held in Rec Hall at 7:30 p.m. and will also be aired on the Big Ten Network.
The No. 5 Nittany Lions stole a win from No. 24 Purdue in a 5 game match. Each set began with a close score until one of the two teams decided to break away with a kill streak. The Boilermakers opened with a first set win, 25-16; Penn State responded with second and third set victories, 25-21 and 25-16. The fourth set, easily the most exciting of the five, was a point-by-point fight until the end. The score didn’t stretch more than three points until the very end. As the Boilermakers led the score 24-22, Penn State lost it at the end with an error behind the service line. In the fifth set, the team was efficient with their kills and held Purdue to 8 points as they climb to the top. The final set score was 15-8, allowing the Nittany Lions to take the match 3-2.
Adding this win to Penn State’s impressive record, they now stand No. 5 in the AVCA coach’s poll at 12-2 and 3-1 in the conference.
With multiple kills, digs, and blocks in each game, Penn State’s Deja McClendon finds herself near the top of the team’s stats per game. The outside hitter from Louisville, KY is a 6’1” senior with an impressive volleyball past. She achieved honors starting her freshman year including: AVCA Division I and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, AVCA Second Team All-American, NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player of the Year, the list goes on and on. Her achievements didn’t stop there, her sophomore year she moved to AVCA First Team All- American and junior year added Volleyball Magazine Second Team All- American to the list. She began her senior year as Preseason All Big Ten Honoree and her stats are further proof of her many deserved titles. Apart from her volleyball career, she studies communications at Penn State and has hopes to become a magazine editor one day.
McClendon and the rest of the team return home this Wednesday, September 9th as they face No. 8 Minnesota. The game will be held in Rec Hall at 7:30 p.m. and will also be aired on the Big Ten Network.
