Posted on 09/05/2015 10:42:46 AM PDT by FlJoePa
The stage is set for another meeting between Stanford and Penn State. It’s the fourth matchup between the teams in the last three seasons, and unsurprisingly, the major storyline is the same. The two teams will once again battle for the No. 1 overall ranking in the nation.
Though this time, the more intriguing storyline might be of the matchup on the sidelines.
Penn State head coach Russ Ross and Stanford head coach John Dunning are not only coaching legends in collegiate volleyball but they’re also long-time friends. And this season, both have faced challenges in restructuring their lineups and altering offensive strategies after losing a 2014 National Player of the Year.
The No. 1 Nittany Lions have had to adjust after the graduation of setter Micha Hancock, who garnered the AVCA’s Player of the Year award, and the No. 2 Cardinal have had to amend their strategy after middle blocker Inky Ajanaku, who earned Volleyball Magazine’s honor, tore her ACL while playing with the U.S. National Team back in June.
Sophomore Bryanna Weiskircher came out of preseason camp with Penn State’s starting setter job but has certainly had a learning curve as she adjusts to her role in the offense. The Lions had an easy start to their season, sweeping Buffalo, Stony Brook and Villanova, but against No. 21 Colorado on Friday night, their offensive flaws were exposed.
Penn State hit just .172 with 13 total errors in the match, as some of their strongest players were stymied by the Buffaloes’ defense and perhaps by poor setting. Colorado’s 29 errors of their own helped the Lions come out with the three-set win.
Stanford, however, has been rolling in the early part of the 2015 season, aside from the first set of Friday afternoon’s 3-1 win over No. 6 Illinois. While the Cardinal’s first weekend of play was dominated by strong play from senior outside hitters Jordan Burgess and Brittany Howard, as well as freshman opposite hitter Hayley Hodson, the return of junior middle blocker Merete Lutz from a finger injury revived memories of the team’s balanced offenses from years past.
Lutz, perhaps the Cardinal’s most important player in the 2015 season, charged with maintaining the team’s strong offensive presence at middle blocker, hit .531 with a career-high 19 kills against the Illini.
Hodson, meanwhile, notched the second double-double of her young career with 13 kills and 11 digs on Friday night. She has been thrust right into the Cardinal rotation after the graduation of last season’s starting opposite Morgan Boukather, and previous experience with the U.S. National Team, for instance, has helped the Southern California native make a seamless transition into collegiate volleyball.
“A lot of that experience has taught me not to be surprised and to expect the unexpected,” Hodson said. “I wouldn’t say there was anything unexpected, but it helps you not get rattled or distracted by things that are maybe a little atypical. This weekend is my first road trip, but having played in a lot of interesting environments over the years and traveling to foreign countries helps with that and makes it all seem a lot more normal.”
The environment at Rec Hall in State College for Saturday night’s match will likely be a raucous one as the top teams in the nation meet once again. The Cardinal will look to take down the defending national champion Nittany Lions and reclaim the nation’s top ranking, just as they did exactly one year ago in Maples Pavilion. Yet Stanford needs no reminders about how dangerous Penn State can be, as the Lions have knocked the Cardinal out of each of the last two postseasons.
Hodson, despite having just started her Stanford career, left no questions about where she and the team stand entering Saturday’s match.
“I’d say we’re hungry,” she said. “Growing up watching college volleyball, it’s always been Penn State and Stanford. And I was always leaning towards the Stanford side of the battle, so I definitely have my own desire to beat Penn State even though I haven’t been a part of the team the last few years.”
First serve between No. 1 and No. 2 is set for 5 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, and the match will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
I see Stanford winning this match as PSU's setting and libero play seem to be a work in progress. That said, Megan Courtney is the best all around player in the game, and no one has the front line talent that PSU has right now. Not even close.
Plus I get to watch Kendall Pierce!
With that being said, there's a young gal from my school district entering her sophomore year at the University of Fl. named Carli Snyder who was just phenomenal when she was in high school.........
PRIOR TO FLORIDA A six-foot outside hitter from Dakota High School in Macomb, Mich….
A six-rotation hitter known for her power and ability to take over the game…Throughout her career, has racked up 2,703 kills, 1,851 digs and 491 aces, all Dakota school records…Checked in at no. 16 on PrepVolleyball’s Senior Aces…Named Miss Volleyball 2013 in the state of Michigan…
The 2013 Metro Detroit Volleyball Player of the Year…
The 2013-14 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year…
As a senior, had 600 kills, 483 digs, 113 aces and a staggering 6.5 kills per set…
Picked up 2013-14 Under Armour Girls High School First Team All-American honors…Her junior campaign was one of her best, as she picked up 2012 Gatorade Michigan State Volleyball Player of the Year title en route to Dakota’s state championship title…
She was named the Most Valuable Player at the NORCECA Girls’ U18 Continental Championships after helping Team USA to the gold medal with 17 points against the Dominican Republic…
Was a finalist for PrepVolleyball’s National Freshman, Sophomore and Junior of the Year and the site honored her on itsTop 50 Junior, Soph 79 and Frosh 59 lists…A four-time First Team All-Michigan selection and was one of only three sophomores recognized by Volleyball Magazine “25 Underclassmen to Watch.”
Good thing those schools are good at volleyball, because their football teams stink this year.
B1G Network tonight @ 8PM if you get it.
I didn’t realize that Temple hadn’t beaten PSU since 1941!
This is a thread about a volleyball match. You and some others seem to be confused.
Considering YOUR personal fixation, my immediate thought is pic. #2.........You creep me out bro............
How about sticking to the topic of volleyball instead of hijacking it to something you seem to have a perverse interest in............
The Big Ten may be just the Big 1.
I'm not sure, is that offered via Comcast? I'll have to check.....thank you
That would be the BIG Ten Network......found it, got it...........
If you should have a Volleyball ping list then please put me on it.........thanks bro!
We’re not allowed to discuss anything in the world that might at some point have anything to do with Penn State.
The rules have been written and approved by (apparently) Jim himself.
So, I will most likely not be around here much longer. Too bad because I’ve been here for over 15 years.
Folks wonder why FR’s numbers are what they are? Take a good look at this harmless thread in chat.
Pac 12 and Big Ten Networks are awesome for volleyball. ESPN U sometimes has matches but it’s not even close.
For my possibly last post ever here, watch Megan Courtney tonight. She’s an amazing all around talent.
I think your post drove him over the edge.
Dude flipped out, opused himself and got zotted.
No, I think it was because the Temple Owls hadn’t beaten PSU since 1941!
Yes it did and it's unfortunate because FlJoe was a good guy and always had intelligent conversations.
His only mistake was being a Penn St. supporter, which I can understand. But every time he would post an article about PSU, in this case, their girls volleyball team, the unwarranted and classless attacks would begin as evidenced by Servant of the Cross's immediate posting of his pictures and attempt to enlist you in the attack. At least you didn't fall for it. I'm surprised that he didn't call in any more of his attack dogs........
In a more civil era of this site that would have been considered thread hijacking and the moderators would have put a quick end to it. FlJoe asked the Mods to pull the pictures as did I but they never did.
Unfortunately that doesn't happen anymore and civility and respect are falling by the wayside.
Yea, FlJoe is gone and I can't blame him....
FlJoe, I know you're upset and I hope one day you will return since we're losing too many good guys around here...........Take care bro!
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