To the Tournament We Go
Penn State closed out their regular season with a win in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday. This was their 19th consecutive win of the season, which they captured in front a huge Nebraska crowd at the Devaney Center. The 3-1 win was an exciting change from their normal three and out sweep matches.
It was a big night for the Nittany Lions key players, Deja McClendon, Megan Courtney, and Ariel Scott who each posted double-digit kills. McClendon had 17, Courtney-14, and Scott-13. Courtney and McClendon also had double- digit digs, Courtney with 12 and McClendon with 13.
The first set PSU fell to a loss. It began with back and forth points, it was either tied or a 1-2 point difference up to the 12-point mark. Nebraska would pull away with a 3-point streak, then Penn State would answer. PSU’s final streak left them in a 3-point deficit and a match point right under the nose of the Huskers at 24-21. Scott managed to hold off the final point with a block until Nebraska answered with a kill and ended the first set 25-22.
An unfamiliar feeling of defeat surged through the Nittany Lions. They rallied back after that first loss and won three straight sets (25-23; 26-24; 26-24) to capture a final regular season win. The three sets were close, but it was a good way to end the season with a bit of a challenge and a lot of excitement.
Last night, Penn State also received their seed in the 2013 NCAA tournament. They are No. 2 and will take on the Northeast Conference champion LIU Brooklyn Friday, Dec. 6th at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall. Penn State will also host Yale vs. Utah that same day in Rec Hall at 5 p.m. The winner of the two matches will play in the second round on Saturday night at 7:30 in Rec Hall.
It was a big night for the Nittany Lions key players, Deja McClendon, Megan Courtney, and Ariel Scott who each posted double-digit kills. McClendon had 17, Courtney-14, and Scott-13. Courtney and McClendon also had double- digit digs, Courtney with 12 and McClendon with 13.
The first set PSU fell to a loss. It began with back and forth points, it was either tied or a 1-2 point difference up to the 12-point mark. Nebraska would pull away with a 3-point streak, then Penn State would answer. PSU’s final streak left them in a 3-point deficit and a match point right under the nose of the Huskers at 24-21. Scott managed to hold off the final point with a block until Nebraska answered with a kill and ended the first set 25-22.An unfamiliar feeling of defeat surged through the Nittany Lions. They rallied back after that first loss and won three straight sets (25-23; 26-24; 26-24) to capture a final regular season win. The three sets were close, but it was a good way to end the season with a bit of a challenge and a lot of excitement.
Last night, Penn State also received their seed in the 2013 NCAA tournament. They are No. 2 and will take on the Northeast Conference champion LIU Brooklyn Friday, Dec. 6th at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall. Penn State will also host Yale vs. Utah that same day in Rec Hall at 5 p.m. The winner of the two matches will play in the second round on Saturday night at 7:30 in Rec Hall.
