December 2010 Archives

TAMPA, Fla. - The buildup is complete.  It is time to play football in sunny Florida at Raymond James Stadium.  Penn State is set to take on Florida in the 25th Outback Bowl.

GoPSUsports.com has provided several videos and numerous photos from the trip to Tampa.  Today, we shift focus towards gameday in Raymond James Stadium.  As we have throughout the season, GoPSUsports.com will give the fans an inside look at Outback Bowl Gameday.

We kick things off with Friday's trip to the stadium for the team photo.  Check back often on gameday for plenty images from the New Year's Day clash with the Gators.

Gameday:

Friday:

The Hyatt downtown Tampa has been the home of Penn State football this week.


The field at Raymond James Stadium.


The mid-field logo.


Putting the final touches on the logo.


Raymond James Stadium


Penn State's end zone painted and ready to go.


The sideline paint has a Penn State helmet striping effect.


Penn State taking the field for the team photo.


The 2011 Outback Bowl team photo.


Inside the Penn State locker room.


The Penn State cheerleaders encouraging Penn State fans to wear white at the pep rally.


A crowd in excess of 3,000 people attended the Penn State pep rally at the Tampa Convention Center.


Coach Paterno at the pep rally.


New Year's Eve in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - The Nittany Lions visited Raymond James Stadium for the first time on Friday morning to participate in the team photo and walk around the field, one day prior to kickoff in the Outback Bowl.

Greeted with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, Penn State posed for a group picture in their blue game jerseys before taking some photos of their own and looking around the field. 

GoPSUsports.com had its camera rolling at the team photo event.  Take a look at the Friday festivities in Tampa.

Coach Paterno also met with the media for the final time prior to kickoff on Friday morning.  Take a look at what he had to say.

Click Here for a Video Scouting Report of the Florida Offense

TAMPA, Fla. - Penn State wrapped up its Outback Bowl practices on Thursday afternoon at Jesuit High School.  A Coach Paterno press conference and the team photo are the only two events that remain until the Lions clash with Florida in Raymond James Stadium on Saturday.

GoPSUsports.com talked with numerous players before the Outback Bowl DeBartolo Team Luncheon at the Tampa Convention Center on Wednesday for two video scouting reports.  After examining the Florida offense on Wednesday, let's take a look at the Florida defense.

Penn State's all-time leading rusher Evan Royster, All-American Stefen Wisniewski and junior wide receiver Derek Moye will all talk about the Gator defense in the video below.

Florida's front seven is an elite group of defensive players that spearhead a unit ranked No. 9 in the nation in total defense.  The Gators will be without two significant pieces on the defensive line against the Nittany Lions.  Terron Sanders and Lawrence Marsh are veteran interior linemen, who will not play on Saturday.  Defensive end Justin Trattou leads the team with 12 tackles for a loss.

The linebacker corps is led by redshirt freshman Jelani Jenkins.  Jenkins is a superb athlete with great closing speed.  He sits second on the team in tackling with 73 hits.  Sophomore Jonathan Bostic is another name to keep an eye on in the linebacker corps.

In the secondary, Florida is one of three schools in the nation to have four players with at least three interceptions.  Overall eight different Gators intercepted a pass in 2010.  Florida hauled in 17 interceptions this season, but will be without star corner Janoris Jenkins, who is out with a shoulder injury.  Strong safety Ahmad Black leads the team in tackling with 102.

Urban Meyer said earlier in the week that he is confident that the Gators have the personnel to fill all four vacancies (injury) on the depth chart this week.

Statistically speaking, Florida allows 21.1 points per game.  The Gators yield 302.9 total yards per game, including 129.9 rushing yards and 173.0 passing yards.  It is no coincidence to see Florida listed as a top 10 defensive unit.  The numbers speak for themselves.  Penn State will see a talented defense on Saturday.

For more on the Gators, take a look at what the Nittany Lions have to say on this video scouting report.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Nittany Lions practiced for the final time before they take the field at Raymond James Stadium for the Outback Bowl on Thursday morning at Jesuit High School in Tampa.

Greeted by the warmest temperatures of the week in the Tampa area, the Nittany Lions wrapped up two weeks of practice leading up to the New Year's Day clash with Florida.  Several players wore different numbers than Penn State fans are accustomed to in the final practice of the 2010 season.  It is a tradition for squad members to switch practice jerseys during the final practice of the season.

Among the numerous jersey changes were Evan Royster, who wore No. 2, Derek Moye, who wore No. 44 and Matt McGloin, who wore No. 75, among others.  Senior wide receiver Brett Brackett had the honor of the final kickoff in his final practice as a Nittany Lion.  The team gathered at mid-field and broke the huddle with a "JoePa" chant before jogging off the practice field for the final time this season.

The on-field preparations are now complete in Tampa.

Following practice, several members of the squad boarded a bus for a 30-minute drive to Clearwater for Outback Bowl Beach Day.  Take a look at some highlights from the final practice and beach day with the Nittany Lions on Thursday in the Tampa area.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Nittany Lions continued preparations for the Outback Bowl at Jesuit High School on Wednesday afternoon in the Tampa area with the New Year's Day clash with the Florida Gators looming.

The Lions practiced under plentiful sunshine again on Wednesday afternoon.  Thursday will mark the final day of preparation on the practice field for the squad before Saturday's kickoff at Raymond James Stadium.

Prior to practice, several players and coaches met with the media before the Outback Bowl DeBartolo Team Luncheon at the Tampa Convention Center.  GoPSUsports.com talked with numerous players from both sides of the ball for their take on the Florida Gators.  Over the next two days, we will let the Nittany Lions tell the fans about Saturday's opponent on two video scouting reports.

We kick things off today with a look at the Florida offense.  Assistant Coach Tom Bradley, junior cornerback D'Anton Lynn, linebacker Michael Mauti and defensive end Pete Massaro all talk about Florida's offense on the scouting report below.

As Coach Bradley mentions in the video, Florida's offensive skill players have elite speed.  John Brantley will be the signal-caller seeing most of the snaps under center.  The redshirt junior quarterback, who has started every game this season, has thrown for nine touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2010.  In addition to Brantley, dynamic freshman Trey Burton will spend time at the quarterback spot. 

Burton, who also lines up at running back and receiver, scored six touchdowns against Kentucky earlier this season.  He leads the team with 11 rushing touchdowns.  Burton has attempted just five passes, but sits second on the team with 30 receptions.  He plays a big role in the Gator offense.  Florida will likely use a third quarterback in Jordan Reed on Saturday, as well.

Speedster Jeff Demps is the primary threat in the running game.  Demps, who runs the 100-meters for the Florida track squad, leads the team in rushing (531) and all-purpose yards (902).  Junior Deonte Thompson is the Gators' leading receiver with 36 catches for 548 yards.  Thompson is a veteran player with 23 career starts.

Statistically speaking, Florida averages 29.2 points per game and 356.8 yards per contest.  Turnovers have plagued the Gators in 2010.  Nonetheless, there will be weapons all over the field wearing white and orange on Saturday afternoon.  As Coach Paterno has noted throughout the preparation for the Outback Bowl, Urban Meyer is a very innovative offensive coach.  Penn State will see plenty of different looks on Saturday.

For more on the Gators, take a look at what the Nittany Lions have to say on this video scouting report.

TAMPA, Fla. - Following Tuesday's practice in Tampa, the Nittany Lions had some fun at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

From lion feeding to thrill rides, the Nittany Lion football team enjoyed its visit to one of Tampa's finest attractions.  Several players participated in the feeding of lions at the park.  Additionally, a number of players sat in the front row of SheiKra, which is the amusement park's most renowned thrill ride.

Take a look at Penn State football's day in Busch Gardens.

The main gate of Busch Gardens.

The Nittany Lions look on as the Busch Gardens trainers begin to feed the Lions.

Simon awaiting his dinner.

Brett Brackett, Andrew Dailey and Stefen Wisniewski feed the lions.

Look closely, Ollie Ogbu and company are in the front row of SheiKra.

Click Here for Video from Tuesday in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - As the Nittany Lions continue preparations for Saturday's Outback Bowl against Florida, GoPSUsports.com wanted to pass along a postcard from the Sunshine State to give the fans a look at some of the Tuesday festivities for Penn State football.

Coach Paterno and Florida head coach Urban Meyer met with the media at a joint press conference before practice at Jesuit High School in Tampa.  Take a look at some of the festivities.

Coach Paterno meeting with the media.

Coach Paterno and Urban Meyer talking to the media.

A crowd of around 50 gathered for the joint press conference.

Michael Mauti walking to the practice field.

The Nittany Lions heading on the field at Jesuit High School.

Coach Paterno walking through the stretching lines at practice.

Mike McQueary and Derek Moye.

The turf field at Jesuit High School.

The Penn State linebackers.

The Nittany Lion safeties going through tackling drills.

The linebacker drills.

Inside the Penn State locker room at Jesuit High School.

The equipment room.

A wide shot of the facility at Jesuit High School.

The entrance to the locker rooms.

The Nittany Lions also used the adjacent grass field.

The Penn State equipment truck at Jesuit High School.

The Nittany Lions will head to Busch Gardens later today.  Check back later for photos from the amusement park visit.

TAMPA, Fla. - Several members of the Nittany Lion football team paid a visit to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital on Monday afternoon in Tampa.

It was a humbling experience for the Nittany Lions to bring smiles to the faces of many children in the hospital.  Take a look at the visit.  Members of both Florida and Penn State took part in the event.

Prior to the hospital visit, the Nittany Lions returned to the practice field on Monday at Jesuit High School in Tampa.  Penn State used both the turf game field and grass practice field at Jesuit High School on a crisp, but sunny day in Tampa.

Both head coaches will participate in a press conference in Tampa on Tuesday before the Nittany Lions practice and travel to Busch Gardens.  As always, GoPSUsports.com will be there to cover all of the events on Tuesday.

TAMPA, Fla. - Penn State returns to the practice field on Monday in Tampa.  Last week, the Lions spent their practice time in Clearwater at the Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training Complex.

The Nittany Lions practiced at Carpenter Complex from Sunday (Dec. 19) through the morning of Dec. 24. Carpenter Complex was renovated with new offices, locker rooms, a larger weight room and an observation walkway for coaches in 2009.  The Lions used two practice fields during their week in Clearwater.

Prior to practice on Wednesday, Coach Paterno had an opportunity to visit with Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay, winner of the 2010 National League Cy Young Award. Halladay tossed just the 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history this past season and just the second MLB post-season no-hitter vs. the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS.

For several members of the Nittany Lion football team, practicing at the Phillies Spring Training site was a once in a lifetime opportunity to use the same field as some of their favorite professional athletes.  Take a look to see what several Phillies fans had to say about practicing at the Carpenter Complex last week.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Nittany Lion football team and staff members boarded four buses outside the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Tampa for the first official game week event for the 2011 Outback Bowl on Sunday evening.

Penn State and Florida congregated at the A La Carte Event Pavilion for an Outback Steakhouse feast at the official welcome dinner for Saturday's game.  Both teams and staffs ate approximately 2,400 pounds of sirloin, chicken and ribs in Tampa on Sunday night.  Following the superb meal, both head coaches took the stage for brief remarks.

In addition to the meal, each player from both teams received a gift bag from the Outback Bowl, which included an Outback Steakhouse gift card and hat.  Bowl games are allowed to provide gifts up to $500 under NCAA rules.  Penn State and Florida student-athletes will receive an Outback Bowl ring, Best Buy gift card and an Outback Bowl Fossil watch to go along with the gifts from Sunday night's welcome dinner.

Take a look at the video below from inside the Outback Bowl Welcome Dinner, including a speech from Coach Paterno.

In addition to the dinner festivities, GoPSUsports.com caught up with several Nittany Lions for their thoughts on Sunday's event and the buildup for the 2011 Outback Bowl.  Take a look here.

After two days off, the Nittany Lions will return to the practice field on Monday.  Penn State's practice home is Jesuit High School this week in Tampa.  Following Monday's practice, several members of the squad will pay a visit to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.  As always, stay tuned for coverage from Monday in Tampa.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In the spirit of spreading some holiday cheer, 'tis the season for a Penn State wish list pertaining to its fast-approaching Outback Bowl clash with Florida.  As you fight through crowds to do some last minute shopping to fulfill the wish lists of family members and friends, make some time to sit down and enjoy GoPSUsports.com's version of a list of holiday gift ideas for the Nittany Lions.  Items are listed in no particular order.  Enjoy.

Get Off to a Fast Start

Penn State scored just one touchdown on its opening drive in the final seven games of the season.  Playing the ninth best defense in the nation at the bowl game, there is no better time to hang seven points on the board early in the first quarter against Florida.  The Nittany Lions can ill afford to fall behind early against a defensive front like Florida's.  Throwing the first punch will take some pressure off the offense.  Allowing Florida to set the tone with its defense could make things very difficult as the game wears on.  So, I'm asking for a touchdown or two in the first quarter.  Is that too much to ask for?  Nah, not with Matt McGloin, Derek Moye and Evan Royster running the show after a month's worth of preparation.

Make Special Teams, Special

Penn State's special teams started fast in 2010 with an early return for a touchdown, but the return game has been quiet since.  Meanwhile, the Florida Gators rank No. 1 in the nation in net punting and No. 4 in the country in kickoff returns, thanks to freshman Andre Debose, who has two returns for a score.  The Nittany Lions have not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since Chaz Powell's 100-yard return in week one.  Penn State has not had a punt return for a score since Derrick Williams took a Wisconsin punt to the house at Camp Randall Stadium in 2008.  A touchdown return would have been nice on the road at Iowa or Ohio State this fall, but I will gladly accept a score in the bowl game.  With two solid defenses on the field, a cheap touchdown could be a difference-maker.  Raise your glass to a special effort for Penn State's special teams.

Match the Speed

You know the drill.  We hear the same thing every year.  The SEC has players that could rival lap times of Jimmie Johnson's car at Daytona International Speedway up the road in Daytona Beach.  The Big Ten has nothing but slow, powerful athletes who can't match the all-world speed of the SEC.  Well, Penn State may not have a player with a track resume like Florida's Jeff Demps (9.96 in the 100 meters), but there are plenty of players with jets wearing blue and white.  Michael Mauti and the defense are tired of hearing it.  Florida has plenty of speed, no question about that, but the Lions can do more than just hold their own.  With speed on the mind, let's hope for a few big plays from Devon Smith, Silas Redd and company.

Turnovers, What turnovers?

The Lions committed nine costly turnovers in their five losses in 2010.  The turnover margin in those five games was minus-2.  Like special teams play, turnovers are critical in big games.  Winning the turnover battle is an area that could be a big boost against the Gators.  The Outback Bowl gives the Lions a chance to turn things around in the turnover game.  A turnover-free game would bring a smile to Coach Paterno's face.  Add a couple forced turnovers to the wish list, as well.  Florida quarterback John Brantley threw nine picks in 2010.  A couple more would be nice.

White New Year's

Children around the world are dreaming of a white holiday season.  I am dreaming of a white New Year's.  The Penn State faithful has become famous for its white-clad environments in Beaver Stadium.  Here's hoping the Penn State fans take that theme on the road in the Outback Bowl to give the Lions an added boost from the 12th man.  Florida's campus is just 130 miles from Tampa.  The Gator nation will be out in full force in what they are calling a "home" game on New Year's Day.  Florida's fans will travel in droves, but I am dreaming of a Penn State white New Year's.

Big Game, Big Plays

Two teams with records not indicative of the potential offensive firepower on their rosters will do battle in Raymond James Stadium.  Both teams have big-play athletes on both sides of the ball, but neither was extremely consistent during the regular season.  Penn State's offense is at its best when the big-play players make big plays.  We did not see it on a regular basis in 2010, but the big-play offense is on the wish list for the bowl game.  A couple touchdown receptions from Derek Moye and a long run from Evan Royster would be a nice treat on New Year's Day.  So, throw a couple big plays on the holiday wish list.

Carry the Big Ten Banner

Penn State was part of a strong bowl season for the Big Ten, last year.  With another series of tough matchups awaiting the conference during this bowl season, Penn State needs to do its part to win one for the Big Ten.  Matching up with a national power on New Year's Day makes the mouth salivate in anticipation.  We can't really ask for much more than a great opponent on the biggest day in college football.  Obviously, one bowl victory from Penn State won't clinch a solid postseason effort from the Big Ten, but it will certainly go a long way.  Wins from all five of the Big Ten teams with New Year's Day clashes on national TV would bring some smiles to the conference office in Chicago.

A Drive for Five

Do you remember putting that one present on your wish list that you knew you wouldn't get, but you couldn't help but add it to the list?  Although it's not part of the gridiron-themed wish list, I am going to be greedy and ask for fifth straight title in women's volleyball.  Russ Rose and the women's volleyball squad have made Penn State the volleyball capital of college sports.  A drive for five is probably beyond our wildest dreams, so throw it on the wish list.  In the meantime, I think all of us will celebrate title number four and will gladly settle for a win in the Outback Bowl. 

Happy Holidays from GoPSUsports.com

See you in Tampa

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com's Outback Bowl coverage continues today with two more video interviews with the Nittany Lions.

As Penn State continues preparations in the sunshine at Clearwater, watch sophomore Justin Brown and Graham Zug talk about the New Year's Day clash with the Florida Gators.

Quinn Barham Media Day Interview

Brett Brackett Media Day Interview

Matt McGloin Media Day Interview

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Both the Nittany Lion and Lady Lion basketball teams entered Tuesday night's doubleheader in the Bryce Jordan Center looking to build some momentum heading into the holiday break.

But both squads came up on the short end of the scoreboard.  The men's squad suffered a 64-54 setback to Maine, while the Lady Lions dropped an 84-73 contest to Drexel.

Men's Hoops: Maine 74, Penn State 64

The Nittany Lions (7-4) dropped their final non-conference clash of the season on Wednesday night in the first game of the evening doubleheader.  Maine (6-5) executed on both ends of the floor en route to a 10-point victory over the Lions.  The Black Bears shot 53 percent for the game and 58 percent from the 3-point arc.

But the stat you can circle on the final box score is rebounding.  Maine out-rebounded Penn State by eight (35-27).  As Coach DeChellis said after the game, the Lions must rebound and defend every night to be in a position to win.  Penn State did not manage to play well in either area on Tuesday night.

On the offensive end of the floor, Maine held the Lions to just 39 percent shooting.  Penn State struggled to find any type of rhythm against Maine's 2-3 and 1-2-2 zone defenses.  Talor Battle scored 26 points to lead all players, but suffered a left hand injury on a dunk late in the game.  Battle finished the game, but went to the hospital for examination on the hand.  D.J. Jackson added 18 points.

Outside of those two seniors, Jermaine Marshall was the third leading scorer with six points.  The Lions now head into a brief break before returning back to State College in preparation for the Big Ten opener at Indiana.  The Nittany Lions must turn up the wick heading into a rigorous stretch to open the conference season.  Intensity level on the defensive end of the floor and on the glass must improve before traveling to Bloomington, Ind., on Dec. 27.

Women's Hoops: Drexel 84, Penn State 73

Like the men's team, the Lady Lions (10-3) wanted to depart campus for the holiday break with a victory, but were unable to do so after a hot-shooting night from Drexel (7-2).  The Lions led by as much as nine in the opening 20 minutes, trailed by one in a high-scoring first half (41-40).  Both teams had good flow and rhythm in the opening 20 minutes.

The complexion of the game changed in the first five minutes of the second half.  Drexel's offensive onslaught continued, as the Dragons tallied 13 straight points out of the locker room.  The Lions went 5:10 before they got on the board in the second half.  From there, Drexel clung to a double-digit advantage for nearly all of the second half.

Credit Drexel, who ranks second behind Penn State in the national 3-point shooting numbers) for knocking down 13 3-pointers in the Jordan Center, but the Lady Lions will be looking to sure things up on the defensive end of the floor moving towards the conference season.  Freshman Maggie Lucas scored 11 of her team-high 20 points in the first half to lead the Lady Lions.  Junior Zhaque Gray and sophomores Alex Bentley and Nikki Greene also reached double figures.

Penn State next hosts Bucknell in the final non-conference matchup of the season on Dec. 28.  The Lions will open the conference season on Dec. 30 against a talented Iowa team.  As we have talked about throughout the early stages of the non-conference season, Penn State has plenty of firepower on the offensive end of the floor.  But its success in the Big Ten is going to hinge on its defense.

Both teams will now break for the holiday.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State opened the conference season with a commanding 42-3 victory over Ohio State in front of a packed house in Rec Hall on Sunday afternoon.

The Nittany Lions are now home for a brief holiday break before their trip to the Southern Scuffle next week.  GoPSUsports.com caught up with wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson for the latest edition of This Week in Penn State Wrestling on Tuesday.  Take a look.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It is with great pleasure to wish college football's greatest coach a Happy 84th Birthday, today.  Coach Paterno will be celebrating in Clearwater on the practice field as the Nittany Lions go through a double session.

What he has done for Penn State University cannot be expressed in words.  He has spent 61 of his 84 years on the Nittany Lion coaching staff.  He is the Division I all-time leader in victories.  He has two national championships.  He is the only Division I coach to reach 400 victories.  His coaching resume is second to none in college football.

But it's the people Coach Paterno has produced that will carry on his legacy long after his football career is over.  He has impacted so many lives in his time at Penn State.  Most Penn State fans will remember the star athletes he has produced, but you forget about the hundreds of players who went on to have successful careers outside of football as doctors, entrepreneurs or lawyers, to name a few.

He and wife Sue have donated millions of dollars to Penn State, which includes helping lead a $13.75 million dollar fundraising effort to create what is now known as the Paterno Library.  The 140,000 square-foot portion of the library dedicated to the Paterno family for their fundraising efforts opened in 2000.  His contribution to the library is probably the most well-known donation to the university.

The Paterno family has lived in the same house on McKee Street in State College for virtually his entire tenure as head coach.  When driving past, onlookers would have no idea that a Hall of Fame head coach lives inside.  And he wouldn't want it any other way.  He is the most generous man in the community and does not seek any attention from the media. 

Coach Paterno will be spending his birthday where he belongs - on the practice field with khaki pants, black Nike shoes and a plain gray sweatshirt.  People from around the country wonder why a man, who is now 84, still has an interest in coaching 18-22 year-olds, but football is what he knows best and he wouldn't change a thing.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure to meet Coach Paterno in person, it is nearly impossible to exactly describe what his personality is like.  He is truly a special human being.

With that in mind, we have compiled a collection of Coach Paterno quotes to help commemorate this special day for the legend in charge of the Penn State football program.

"Besides pride, loyalty, discipline, heart, and mind, confidence is the key to all the locks."

"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality."

"Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good."

"Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy."

"You need to play with supreme confidence, or else you'll lose again, and then losing becomes a habit."

"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital."

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things."

"You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional."

"Publicity is like poison; it doesn't hurt unless you swallow it."

"It's the name on the front of the jersey that matters most, not the one on the back."

"I don't know exactly where to start. It's been fun. I have enjoyed every minute of my career or I never would have stayed in it. Never intended to coach when I came here, but I enjoyed the town so much and enjoyed the competition and the people and made me comfortable and I just decided, 'hey, this might be the best for me.'"

He has seen countless football games.  His lifetime has spanned 14 different presidents.  Coach Paterno was born on Dec. 21, 1926 in Brooklyn.   He may be 84, but he doesn't coach like he is a day over 60.  Enjoy the day and flip on an old game as a reminder for how lucky Penn State has been to have an iconic figure leading its football program for the past half century.

Happy Birthday, Coach Paterno.  Enjoy the sunshine.  We look forward to seeing you on the sidelines for the Outback Bowl in less than two weeks.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions are back on the practice field in Clearwater, Fla., preparing for the New Year's Day Outback Bowl clash with Florida.

We caught up with a number of different Nittany Lions prior to heading south.  Stay tuned over the next few days for comments from several Penn State players leading up to the New Year's Day clash with Florida in Tampa.

We kicked things off with Quinn Barham and Brett Brackett last week.  Today, we are going to focus on the sophomore quarterback who will lead the Penn State office onto the field at Raymond James Stadium.  Matt McGloin played solid football throughout his time as the starter.  McGloin, who started four of the last five games, tossed 13 touchdowns in 2010.  Take a look at his thoughts leading up to the bowl.

Quinn Barham Media Day Interview

Brett Brackett Media Day Interview

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion wrestling team pounded 22nd-ranked Ohio State by a score of 42-3 inside Rec Hall on Sunday afternoon.

After winning nine of the 10 bouts, take a look to see what head coach Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions had to say about the first dual of the Big Ten season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Nittany Lion women's volleyball team etched its place in history by winning a fourth straight National Championship inside the Sprint Center on Saturday.

From the pre-match pep rally at the hotel to the trophy celebration after the 3-0 sweep of Cal, GoPSUsports.com had its camera rolling.

Take a look at a memorable night in Kansas City.  Congratulations to the 2010 National Champions.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Head into the media room with head coach Russ Rose and the Nittany Lions for their thoughts after winning the 2010 National Championship on Saturday night.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -  For the fourth consecutive season, Penn State is celebrating a national championship in women's volleyball.  It was an incredible night in the Sprint Center, as the Nittany Lions tallied a 3-0 sweep of Cal to win an unprecedented fourth straight trophy.

Take a look back at the national championship match on this in-match blog.

Setting the Scene

It is Big Ten vs. Pac-10 in the 2010 National Championship match.  Two powerful volleyball conferences will clash on national television.  The nation will be watching to see if the Nittany Lions can win their fourth consecutive national championship.

Penn State's run through the 2010 tournament draw has been impressive, but the team played its best match of the postseason on Thursday night against Texas.  The Lions were potent offensively and limited a powerful Longhorn attack to nearly .200 below its season average.

The Nittany Lions and Golden Bears have met in each of the past three postseasons, with Penn State winning all three meetings.  This matchup will feature two vastly different teams.  Both squads are playing superb volleyball heading into the biggest match of the season.  It is shaping up to be a very intriguing matchup inside the Sprint Center.

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday night, it has been an incredible season for the Nittany Lion women's volleyball team.  Playing for a fourth straight national championship is an unbelievable accomplishment.  For now, though, it's national championship match time in Kansas City.

Numbers Comparison

Here is a brief look at a few numbers for both teams in tonight's National Championship:

Penn State                           California

Record:                                                   31-5                                       30-3

Tournament Seed:                                 No. 4                                      No. 7

National Ranking:                                  No. 8                                      No. 4

Hitting Percentage:                                .316                                       .312

Blocks Per Set:                                      3.00                                        3.00

Opponent Hitting Percentage:              .131                                       .168

Top Attacker:                                          Brown - 4.19 kills/set            Murrey - 5.23 kills/set

Record Against Ranked Teams:           8-3                                        13-2

Stay tuned tonight throughout the match for an update live from the Sprint Center after every set.

Set One: Penn State 1, Cal 0

Just like they did on Thursday night, the Nittany Lions got off to a fast start.  Freshman Deja McClendon drilled home a pair of kills to put Penn State up 12-7 before the Golden Bears burned a timeout.  Nonetheless, the Bears answered with four straight points to trim the lead down to just one before McClendon tallied another kill.  With the score reading 16-15, Nittany Lions, Penn State put together a crucial 5-2 run, which pushed the lead to 21-17 late in the set.  The Lions benefitted from Cal errors and made timely plays to push the lead up to four.  From there, Cal closed to within three on two occasions, but a deep tip from Blair Brown clinched the first set for the Nittany Lions.  McClendon tallied six kills in a crucial first set.  The Lions did a nice job responding to every Cal run.  The big number on the scoreboard is Penn State's 1-0 lead.

Set Two: Penn State 27, Cal 25

The second set proved to be a seesaw battle in the early stages.  Neither team led by more than one tally until the Golden Bears manufactured a kill and a service ace to claim an 11-9 advantage.  Cal extended its lead to four (14-10) before kills from Arielle Wilson and Brown trimmed the deficit down to 14-12.  Trailing 17-14, the Nittany Lions got a pair of kills from McClendon and a key block from fellow freshman Katie Slay to square the set at 17-17.  Slay then struck again with another block to put the Lions out front for the first time in the second set at 18-17.  An attack error from the Golden Bears put the Lions up 19-17 before Cal burned a timeout.  The latter stages of the second set were like a heavyweight fight.  Both teams exchanged blow after blow.  Cal had two set points before the Lions scored the final three points of the second to build a 2-0 lead in the match.  Slay registered her seventh block and then Brown buried home two kills to clinch a 27-25 victory.  Cal did a superb job getting hands on Penn State balls at the net in the second set, but again, the Nittany Lions stepped up when they needed to.  What a battle this has become in Kansas City, but the Lions lead 2-0.

Set Three: Penn State 25, Cal 20

Just as the Golden Bears did in the second, they came out swinging in set three.  The Golden Bears built leads of 10-6 and 12-9, but the Nittany Lions illustrated the fiber that has fueled them this far into the tournament, once again.  Every time the Lions face some adversity, they find a way to dig a little deeper and respond.  An 8-0 spurt, capped by an Ali Longo ace, put the Lions on top 17-12.  The Nittany Lions had firm control on things from there.  Cal closed to within four (24-20) late, but the night belonged to the Nittany Lions.  What more can you say about Deja McClendon.  She finished with 16 kills in her first ever National Championship match.  Blair Brown was outstanding, as well, finishing with 18 kills.  Arielle Wilson added 12.  And Penn State has won its fourth consecutive national championship.  What an incredible night it was in the Sprint Center.

Final Word
It is hard to put into words what this week has been like in Kansas City for the Nittany Lion women's volleyball team.  It is truly incredible to think about Penn State winning four consecutive national championships.  There is a set of expectations to play for Russ Rose.  He demands a lot from his players, but seeing the work ethic from everyone on the roster and the staff makes it easy to see why the Nittany Lions have won four straight titles.  Saturday night's match was a hard fought battle, but Penn State again made all of the big plays at the clutch moments of the match.  And for the fourth straight season, Penn State women's volleyball is celebrating a national championship.  Congratulations to the Nittany Lions.

Stay tuned for post-match video later tonight.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions arrived in Kansas City on Tuesday and have since found their way into the final match of the NCAA Tournament. Penn State is now the only school in Division I history to reach the championship match four years in a row.

Penn State defeated ninth-seeded Texas on Thursday night in three straight sets to take the first National Semifinal match. Later the same evening, seventh-seeded California swept sixth-seeded University of Southern California to advance to the National Championship. The Nittany Lions will face the Golden Bears on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET in the Sprint Center for what is sure to be a championship showdown.

The Golden Bears defeated USC 3-0 on Thursday night, marking their 21st sweep of the 2010-'11 season. This season highlights the ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Cal, but only the second time the team has made it into the NCAA Finals. California will play in its first ever NCAA National Championship match.

Cal's wins over the Trojans puts them on a six-game winning streak, capturing a program-best 30 wins this season after the National Semifinal victory. Overall, the Golden Bears are 30-3 this year.

California boasts a number of other honors and accomplishments this season as well. Cal head coach Rich Feller was recently named the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) National Coach of the Year. Feller led his team to a 15-3 conference record to capture their first Pac-10 title in program history, and helped the Golden Bears earn a program-best fifth-straight 20-win season. Feller was also named the Pac. 10 Coach of the Year.

California's starting line-up features three AVCA Division I All-America honorees as well. Senior setter Carli Lloyd and junior outside hitter Tarah Murrey were named to First Team All-American while sophomore outside hitter Correy Johnson earned Honorable Mention All-American status.  Lloyd was named AVCA Player of the Year on Friday night at the banquet.

The Golden Bears currently have four active players hitting above a .300 average. Redshirt sophomore middle hitter Shannon Hawari leads the team at .421 followed by sophomore middle hitter Kat Brown averaging .366, Johnson averaging .330 and Murrey hitting .321. Murrey dominantly leads Cal in kills per set with 5.23, and is averaging 5.53 kills per set in this NCAA Tournament.

Lloyd has played in all but one match this season, and has been solidly guiding her offense to success. The senior setter has racked up 1,351 assists this year for an average of 11.85 assists per set. Like Murrey, Lloyd has managed to step up her game in the postseason and is averaging 12.73 assists per set in this NCAA Tournament.

California uses its height as an advantage over their opponents as well. Standing at 6-foot-3, Brown leads the Golden Bears this season with 146 blocks for an average of 1.34 blocks per set. Close behind and just an inch shorter at 6-foot-2, Hawari has put up 125 blocks of her own to average 1.19 blocks per set. Finding herself in the front row more often than not, Lloyd has managed to contribute 123 blocks this season as well for an impressive average of 1.08 blocks per set.

Sophomore defensive specialist Robin Rostratter has held down the defensive end of the Golden Bears' system with 479 digs this season for an average of 4.17 digs per set. Rostratter also leads the team with 28 services aces this season. Expect to see senior defensive specialist Meagan Schmitt helping out in the back row as well, as she was contributed to 244 digs this season for an average of 2.14 digs per set.

Saturday's National Championship match will be the fourth time Penn State and Cal have met in Division I history. The Nittany Lions and the Golden Bears have faced one another the past three years in a row in the NCAA Tournament, and Penn State claimed all three matches.

While the Nittany Lions look to clinch their fourth-consecutive national title, the Golden Bears find themselves in a place where they have never been before. California is looking to take home their first NCAA Title, and upset the three-time defending champions.

Expect nothing more than a head-to-head match-up of two of the most successful women's volleyball teams this season. This one is for all the marbles, and will make history for the program that reigns victorious.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Penn State's run through the NCAA women's volleyball world has been truly remarkable over the past four seasons.

Having won three straight national titles, the Nittany Lions are familiar with the stakes in front of them leading up to Saturday's national championship match with Cal.  Following a dominant 3-0 sweep of Texas on Thursday, the Lions have the opportunity to play for an unprecedented fourth consecutive national championship.

Head coach Russ Rose and the Nittany Lions returned to the Sprint Center on Friday morning for a two-hour practice.  As it has been throughout the NCAA Tournament, the coach staff has placed a big emphasis on serving and passing leading up to the national title match with Cal.

The Golden Bears were impressive in their victory over USC on Thursday night.  The Lions have defeated Cal in each of the last three seasons en route to their three national championships.  Nonetheless, like we mentioned prior to the Texas match, this is a matchup between two completely different teams than the ones that met in the past three seasons.

A national television audience will be watching when the Nittany Lions play for all the marbles on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET inside the Sprint Center.

Friday practice

The Sprint Center scoreboard is ready for the title match.

VIDEO: Previewing the National Championship Match

We caught up with assistant coach Kaleena Davidson just after practice on Friday for her thoughts leading up to Saturday's national championship clash between Penn State and Cal.

Head coach Russ Rose and a trio of Nittany Lions met with the media following practice, as well.  Watch to see Coach Rose's thoughts on Saturday night's matchup.

 One Match Left

The Nittany Lions have reached the point they strive for every season.  The final match of the NCAA women's volleyball season will take place on Saturday night, and Penn State will again be part of it.  The incredible string of success for Penn State women's volleyball is something that may never be matched by the program again.  The hard work and dedication the 2010 Nittany Lions have put forth for the past five months will climax on Saturday night when they meet Cal for the 2010 NCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship.

Stay tuned for much more from Kansas City.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The three-time defending national champions defeated the Texas Longhorns on Thursday night in what was truly a team effort. Although Penn State presented a line-up of three fresh faces in the NCAA Tournament, the Nittany Lions played like a truly veteran team.

Penn State swept Texas 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-22) in the first National Semifinal match held in Kansas City. The last time the two teams faced one another was in the 2009 National Championship match in Tampa, Florida, where the Nittany Lions reigned victorious after pulling out an incredible 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Longhorns.

This time, it was all Penn State. The Nittany Lions got off to a commanding start in the first set as they went on a 4-0 run to start off the set, forcing the Longhorns to take their first time out early. The Nittany Lions used their standout senior middle hitter Blair Brown to get ahead, and then handed the offense to the freshmen.

Freshmen middle hitter Ariel Scott, outside hitter Deja McClendon and middle hitter Katie Slay combined for 11 of the Nittany Lions 16 kills in the first set. Penn State was solid on both sides of the net, hitting a team average of .556 and holding the Longhorns to just a .115 hitting percentage. The Nittany Lions have not lost an opening set since October 9th.

The second set seemed all too familiar as the Nittany Lions jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and the freshmen stepped up again. McClendon and Scott recorded the first two kills for Penn State, and were on a roll from then on. The three freshmen totaled 19 kills and 10 blocks in the second set, leading the Nittany Lions to another 25-13 set victory.

Sophomore setter Kristen Carpenter was impressive in the first two sets as well, guiding the offense like a veteran and using her quick decision-making to keep the Longhorns off balance. Senior libero and defensive specialist Alyssa D'Errico and senior defensive specialist Cathy Quilico were solid in the back row, allowing the Longhorns only 13 points in each of the first two sets.

After the intermission, the Nittany Lions came back out onto the floor a little more relaxed than they had been. The Longhorns put up a good fight coming out of the locker room, but Penn State was on a mission and no one was going to stop them.

The third set was a dogfight, both teams battling back and forth for the majority of the set until Penn State took an 11-9 lead after a big block from Slay and Brown. The Longhorns continued to answer back and went on a 3-0 run to put Texas up 12-11, but Brown put down a roaring kill to tied it 12 again.

The teams continued to go back-and-forth until Penn State lead 23-21 after the Longhorns had gone on a 2-0 run, and the Nittany Lions called a timeout to calm their nerves. Brown came back onto the court and delivered a kill to notch the score at 24-21. The Longhorns answered with a kill of their own, but Scott closed out the set with the final kill to end the match 25-22.

The Nittany Lions hit .356 as a team. Brown led Penn State with 12 kills, followed by McClendon with 11 and Scott with 10 of her own. McClendon recorded a career-high and match-high .733 hitting percentage, attacking 11-15 on the night.

Penn State shut down the two hitters in the country in Texas' junior middle blocker Rachael Adams and senior middle blocker Jennifer Doris, holding the Longhorns to just a .131 hitting percentage. The Nittany Lions' defense was solid to say the least, as D'Errico tallied 11 digs and Brown notched 10. The triple block was in effect for Penn State as well, as Slay led the team with six total blocks followed by senior middle hitter Arielle Wilson, McClendon and Scott each with three of their own.

Penn State head coach Russ Rose was more than pleased with the way his team played against the Longhorns.

"I thought we had a really nice game plan for Texas, said Rose. "Deja [McClendon] had a great night offensively and Ariel [Scott] had a great night. I thought that Carp [Kristin Carpenter] set a great match. We played hard; you have to play hard in a match like that. I thought we great the first couple of games and we started a little soft in the third game. Once we got a hold of the ball again, I thought that we controlled the ball on our side at least."

Carpenter was modest when she was asked about the way she served during the match.

"Well, I ate my Wheaties this morning," said Carpenter. "Other than that, we serve a lot in practice. There wasn't anything special. I started out jump serving like you saw, but we needed a tough, low serve. We all served pretty well, I thought."

Rose attributed part of the win to the Nittany Lions' ability to be flexible and continually adjust to the extremely physical Texas offense.

"We have a few players that I thought were great in the game," said Rose. "In the second game we had a triple block on a one-ball. People don't normally do things like that. We thought that if they had a good pass, there were certain things that we had to take chances on. We took some chances and tonight they paid off for us."

Although the match was reminiscent of last year's National Championship, the Nittany Lions said that the only thing that was really the same was the names of the two teams competing against each other. Brown said that Penn State was looking to beat the team on the other side of the court Thursday night.

"We don't like to talk about the history because these are two completely different teams that are playing this year," said Brown. "We have nine new freshmen and they have a lot of new people on the floor. These are two different teams playing each other in a different year. That's what's we really focused on, the team that was in front of us."

The Nittany Lions move on to face seventh-seeded California on Saturday, December 18 at 8:30 p.m. Penn State is now only one match away from winning its fourth consecutive national championship.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions are one day away from meeting in Clearwater, Fla., to begin preparations in the Sunshine State for the Outback Bowl.

We caught up with a number of different Nittany Lions at Outback Bowl media day in Happy Valley last week.  Stay tuned over the next few days for comments from a number of Penn State players leading up to the New Year's Day clash with Florida in Tampa.

Quinn Barham kicked off the video interviews yesterday.  Today, senior co-captain Brett Brackett is the highlighted player.  Brackett has been a go-to receiver in a superb senior season.  He made 37 receptions and five touchdowns in 2010.  Brackett is one of few players on the roster who has been to the Outback Bowl before.  Take a look at his thoughts leading up to the bowl.

Quinn Barham Media Day Interview

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With a 3-0 sweep of Texas, Penn State is headed to the National Championship match for the fourth-straight season.

From the Lions taking the floor and player introductions to the post-match press conference, take a look at some GoPSUsports.com video from a superb night in the Sprint Center.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Nittany Lions turned in a dominant performance to oust Texas in the National Semifinals on Thursday night.  With a 3-0 sweep, Penn State will play in the national title match for the fourth straight season inside the Sprint Center on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Take a look back at a great day in the Sprint Center.

All of the buildup is complete.  It is match day in Kansas City, as the three-time defending national champion Nittany Lions get set to take on Texas in the NCAA Semifinals inside the Sprint Center.

Penn State practiced inside the arena for the final time on Thursday morning during a 60-minute closed session.  The squad will participate in the team meal at the hotel before heading to the arena for tonight's match with the Longhorns.

Setting the Scene

Penn State and Texas met one year ago in what evolved into one of the most epic national championship matches in NCAA Women's Volleyball history.  But 362 days later, two very different teams are set to take the floor inside the Sprint Center with a berth to Saturday's National Championship match on the line.  The three-time defending national champions will clash with a talented, athletic group of Longhorns. 

Texas comes into the match riding a 19-match winning streak.  Senior outside hitter Juliann Faucette is the go-to player for the Longhorns.  The 6-2 outside hitter was named Big 12 player of the year.  Keep and eye on No. 1 in burnt orange tonight.  Also watch for No. 5 Rachael Adams, who leads the team in hitting percentage at .438.

Penn State must block well against Texas' firepower this evening.  It will be very interesting to watch the battle at the net.  As a fan of the Nittany Lions and college volleyball, you can't ask for much more than Penn State and Texas in the national semifinals.  Two exceptionally talented teams are set to clash on national television with a trip to the national title match on the line.  It's time for the first serve in Kansas City.

Numbers Comparison

Here is a brief look at a few numbers for both teams in tonight's national semifinal:

 
   Penn State                              Texas

Record:                                          30-5                                          27-5

Tournament Seed:                         No. 4                                        No. 9

National Ranking:                          No. 8                                        No. 6

Hitting Percentage:                        .314                                         .311

Blocks Per Set:                              3.01                                          2.47

Opponent Hitting Percentage:      .131                                         .189

Top Attacker:                                  Blair Brown - 4.20 kills/set      Faucette - 3.92 kills/set

Record Against Ranked Teams:   7-3                                           7-4

Set One: Penn State 25, Texas 13

Penn State opened the match in a huge manner.  Big Ten Player of the Year Blair Brown drilled home the first two kills of the match.  A Texas error and a Deja McClendon kill forced Texas to burn a timeout just four points into the match.  Penn State was on fire out of the gate.  The Lions built a 10-1 lead before the Longhorns rattled off four of the next five points.  Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions kept their foot on the accelerator on the way to a 25-13 victory.  Penn State freshmen accounted for 11 of the Lions' 16 kills.  The Lions hit .556 as a team in the dominant first set.  The most important number on the board is a 1-0 lead in the overall match.

Set Two: Penn State 25, Texas 13

The Nittany Lions opened the second set just as they did in the first.  Penn State jumped out to a 4-1 lead, thanks to a pair of kills from Ariel Scott.  The Longhorns rallied to square the score at 7-7, but the Lions again turned up the wick.  A service error from Texas standout Juliann Faucette triggered a 6-1 spurt from the Nittany Lions.  A 6-0 run later in the set put the Lions up 19-10.  From there, the Nittany Lions cruised home for a 25-13 win in the second.  Texas had no answer for Penn State's offensive attack.  The Lions are hitting .400 for the match as the teams head into the locker room for the 10-minute intermission.  Scott has been incredible in her first ever NCAA Semifinal appearance.  She has nine kills to lead all players.  The Nittany Lions are on a mission with a 2-0 lead in the match.

Set Three: Penn State 25, Texas 22

Unlike the first two sets, the third set went back-and-forth in the early stages.  With the score tied at 9-9, Penn State benefitted from a Texas hitting error and a combined block from Katie Slay and Brown, which put the Lions up 11-9.  The score was again tied at 13-13, but the Lions again turned up the wick at a crucial moment.  A Kristin Carpenter kill triggered a 4-0 run for the Nittany Lions.  The Longhorns closed to within two late in the set, but the night belonged to the three-time defending national champions.  Penn State won the third 25-22 and swept Texas in dominant fashion.  Brown finished with 12 kills, while McClendon added 11 and Scott tallied 10 kills.  McClendon hit a sizzling .733 in the match, which was her first appearance in the national semifinals.  Penn State hit .365 as a team for the match.  The Longhorns simply had no answer for Penn State's potent offensive attack.

Looking Ahead

The Nittany Lions advance to play for an unprecedented fourth straight national championship on Saturday night inside the Sprint Center.  The Lions will meet either Cal or USC in the championship.  Penn State delivered a message to the women's volleyball world on Thursday night with a truly dominant performance in all aspects of the game.  The talented Texas Longhorns were pushed back on their heels on the first point of the match, and the Nittany Lions never looked back.  Penn State never allowed Texas to generate any momentum in the match, which was crucial.  Coach Rose commented after the match that effective serving and passing was key in the scouting report.  For the fourth consecutive season, the Nittany Lions found another gear on the biggest stage in college volleyball, and for the fourth straight season, Penn State will play for a national title.

Stay tuned for post-match video tonight.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions are beginning to wrap up final exams and head home before meeting in Clearwater, Fla., on Saturday.

As we noted earlier in the week, Penn State will begin practice at the Philadelphia Phillies spring training complex in Clearwater from Sunday through Friday, Dec. 24.  Leading up to the Outback Bowl preparations, GoPSUsports.com is going to roll out several video interviews over the next few days.

We caught up with a number of different Nittany Lions at Outback Bowl media day in Happy Valley last week.  Stay tuned over the next few days for comments from a number of Penn State players leading up to the New Year's Day clash in Tampa.

First up is a conversation with junior tackle Quinn Barham.  The North Carolina native started all 12 games at left tackle in 2010.  Take a look at his thoughts leading up to the bowl.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions are in Kansas City and are ready to get to work. Penn State was able to practice on Monday and Tuesday for the last times in Rec Hall this season, and get in their first 90-minute practice round in the Sprint Center on Wednesday afternoon. However, there is still much more preparing to be done.

Penn State is up against ninth-seeded Texas in the first National Semifinal match, which will be played at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Longhorns are physical team to say the least, and the Nittany Lions know that they will be facing stiff competition.

This postseason marks the Longhorns' 27th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and Texas holds an all-time record of 62-25 in tournament play. However, these are hardly the most impressive numbers when it comes to the Longhorns.

Texas started off the 2010-2011 season with a record of 8-5 as they were stricken by a number of injuries that made it tough for head coach Jerrit Elliot to set a definitive line-up. Projected starting sophomore outside-hitter Bailey Webster tore her ACL in preseason, foreshadowing a string of bad luck to follow for the Longhorns.

Throughout the season, three more key players have been taken out of the line-up. Sophomore defensive specialist Cristina Arenas and junior libero Syndey Yogi are both out with hip injuries, and freshman outside hitter Ashley Bannister went down with an ankle injury.

However, the Longhorns managed to come together as a team and turn their season around. Their fifth loss of the season was their last loss of the season. Texas has won their last 19 matches and is coming into the National Semifinal match on a roll.

Despite injuries and a national audience that said they wouldn't make it far, the Longhorns have entered the final weekend of the NCAA Tournament yet again. And how fitting for the Longhorns, since coach Elliot was born in Kansas City himself.

The starting line-up for Texas is a mix young and old talent, both experienced and inexperienced in NCCA Tournament play. Senior outside hitter Juliann Faucette leads the Longhorns offensively, averaging 3.92 kills per set. Close behind with 2.94 kills per set is junior middle blocker Rachael Adams, along with junior outside hitter Amber Roberson with 2.86 of her own.

Texas is an extremely dominant hitting team. Adams and senior middle blocker Jennifer Doris are ranked 1-2 in the country in hitting percentage. Adams is hitting .448 while Doris follows close behind at .435. As a team, the Longhorns are fourth in the nation among the best hitting teams with a .311 overall average.

In their last 19 matches, the Longhorns have averaged an even better team hitting percentage of .346 while averaging 15.54 kills per set. Needless to say, Texas has a very strong offense.

Junior setter Michelle Kocher will be guiding her teammates offensively, as she has recorded 787 assists this season to notch an over of 10.64 assists per set. Texas is strong from behind the end line as well, with three players tallying 20 or more service aces this season. Faucette leads the team with 26 services aces, followed by sophomore utility player Sha'Dare McNeal with 24 and freshman setter Hannah Allison with 20.

On the receiving end, freshman libero Sarah Palmer and Faucette have been solid. Palmer has fended off 285 balls, recording as many digs and averaging 3.06 digs per set. Faucette has been a strong defensive presence as well with 292 digs for 2.54 digs per set.

Standing at 6-foot-2, Adams has been a force to reckon with at the net with 137 blocks this season for an average of 1.20 blocks per set. McNeal towers over most at 6-foot-1 and has put up 90 blocks for an average of .78 blocks per set, the same average as Doris, who has tallied 89 blocks this season.

Needless to say, the Longhorns will be putting up a fight. The Nittany Lions are 9-6 all-time against Texas, and the last time the two teams met was in the National Championship match of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

This time last year, Penn State and Texas faced one another in Tampa, Fla. in the final match of postseason play. Texas took an early 2-0 lead in the match and things looked dismal for the Nittany Lions. However, Penn State pulled out a jaw-dropping come-from-behind victory by winning three straight sets against the Longhorns to earn their third-straight national championship.

The Longhorns have not won a national championship since 1988, and will be looking to defeat anyone who stands in their way of another chance this season. Penn State will be their first opponent. Get ready for a showdown.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com listened in on Florida head coach Urban Meyer during his meeting with the press at the Outback Bowl Contract Signing event in Tampa last week.

Take a look to see what Coach Meyer had to say about Coach Paterno and when we asked him about this season's Penn State team.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It is practice day inside the Sprint Center for the fourth-seeded Penn State women's volleyball team.  The Lions stepped onto the floor at 10 a.m. CT to begin 90 minutes of practice time for today.

As things transpire throughout the practice day, we are going to provide blog coverage.  Check back throughout the day for updates.

Welcome Inside the Arena

The Sprint Center was built three years ago, and it is a fantastic sporting venue.  The seats are positioned in an intimate manner, despite seating more than 17,000 people.  Here are a couple images from our seat next to the court for today's practice.

The Nittany Lions on the court.

The view from press row.

The Sprint Center scoreboard and video screens.

VIDEO: Catching up with Coach Davidson

As we have throughout the NCAA Tournament, here is a video interview with assistant coach Kaleena Davidson leading up to Thursday's National Semifinal matchup with Texas.

Brown and Wilson Named First Team All-Americans;
McClendon Freshman of the Year

Three Nittany Lions were honored on Wednesday for their stellar efforts this fall.  Seniors Blair Brown and Arielle Wilson were named first team AVCA All-Americans.  Both earned second team All-American honors last season.

Freshman Deja McClendon was named AVCA Freshman of the Year and earned second team All-American honors.  All three players have been tremendous in the NCAA Tournament.  And all three will play a huge role in tomorrow's match.  Congratulations to all three standout players.

VIDEO: Wednesday Press Conference Highlights

Following a pair of video sessions with ESPN and the Sprint Center video board, Coach Rose, Blair Brown, Alyssa D'Errico and Arielle Wilson met with the media during the formal press conference on Wednesday afternoon.  We had the camera rolling for some highlights of the meeting.  Take a look.

Match Day

With the Wednesday festivities over, it is now time to focus on match day in Kansas City.  The Nittany Lions will practice in the morning before the 6 p.m. CT first serve against Texas.  Stay tuned for much more coverage from the Midwest.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State wrestling program is unique. Besides the fact that the Nittany Lions' 33-man roster is made up of 21 freshmen, the Penn State program has a winning attitude unlike any other team around.

Head coach Cael Sanderson and his coaching staff has instilled a sense of intensity and determination in their Nittany Lions and it seems to be working. The team is undefeated this season, boasting a team record of 6-0. Most recently, Penn State shutout local rival Lock Haven 48-0 in a dual meet this past Sunday.

Each and every Penn State wrestler seems to have one goal in mind when they step onto the mat and face an opponent. Not only are the determined to win and score points for the Nittany Lions, each wrestler goes out and wrestles hard for seven minutes no matter what.

Sophomore Nick Fischer made his dual-debut appearance for the Nittany Lions this past Sunday against Lock Haven and proved just how deep the Penn State roster really is. Fischer stepped in to wrestle at the 174 spot as the team had to juggle around a few wrestlers because starters Jake Kemerer and Quentin Wright were not in the line-up. Usually seen in the 165 spot, Kemerer was out sick on Sunday and 184 starter Quentin Wright is out with a shoulder injury. Instead, James Vollrath was listed at 165 and Ed Ruth bumped up from 174 to 184, leaving the 174 spot open to Fischer.

And boy did he make good use of the opportunity. In a bout that went back and forth between Fischer and Lock Haven's Michael Khoury, the Nittany Lion came out on top. The two wrestlers entered the third period of the bout locked at a score of 4-5. Khoury chose down to start the third period, and quickly escaped to tie the score at 5-5. With time winding down and pressure on each wrestler to finish out the match, Fischer countered a Khoury shot and sealed a bout-winning takedown with just seven seconds to go in the third period.

Coach Sanderson said that he couldn't have asked for more from a kid who has simply been waiting his turn to wrestle.

"He did a great job, I'm really happy with him," said Sanderson. "Fischer is a guy that's been right there and been doing really well in the room and in open tournaments and any time you can get those guys a match it's a good thing."

Fischer's plan going into the match-up with Khoury paid tribute to the mentality of the Penn State wrestling program as a whole.

"We're going to wrestle how we wrestle," said Fischer. "Every match we go out there we're going to wrestle Penn State style - everybody is going to go hard for seven minutes."

Ultimately, Fischer said that his win wouldn't have been possible without all the hard work and dedication he has put into this season.

"I'm confident in my conditioning," said Fischer. "Penn State has the best conditioning in the country, and we're just going to keep coming at them. I knew if I kept coming at him I'd get that takedown in the end."

Fischer also tipped his hat to the coaching style of Sanderson and the progress he has made under Sanderson's leadership this season.

"I want to keep improving until I'm the man at whatever weight class I'm at, said Fischer. "I'm going to keep wrestling.  I mean wrestling these guys in the room, they're good guys making me better. A couple of years ago before Cael came in, I probably would have been the starter my whole career but I wouldn't be nearly as good as I am now. I'd go out there and be a mediocre wrestler and now I'm getting to be a great wrestler."

Fischer's success is just one example of the exciting things that have been happening for the Penn State wrestling program. One thing that is for sure is that each and every Nittany Lion steps out onto the mats anticipating a seven-minute battle. No breaks, no letting-up and no giving in.

Thanks to a dedicated coaching staff that has instilled a hard-nosed attitude into a talented group of athletes, the No. 5 Penn State wrestling team will definitely be one to watch this season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Shortly after 7:15 p.m. CT, the fourth-seeded Nittany Lion women's volleyball team arrived in Kansas City in preparation for its National Semifinal bout with Texas on Thursday night.

Penn State shared its charter flight with the pep band, which played the Penn State fight song at 30,000 feet during the flight to the Midwest.

Before the team departed Rec Hall on Tuesday evening, Penn State President Graham Spanier stopped by practice for a special graduation presentation.  President Spanier interrupted practice to award senior Blair Brown her diploma.

Brown put a cap and gown on over her practice clothes and participated in a special graduation ceremony.  She is slated to graduate this weekend in Happy Valley, but because the team will be in Kansas City, President Spanier paid a special visit to practice to give Blair Brown the proper graduation ceremony she deserves.  Take a look at what is likely the first graduation ceremony in the South Gym of Rec Hall with the Big Ten Player of the Year and President Spanier.

Stay tuned for much more coverage from Kansas City.  The Nittany Lions will participate in open practice on Wednesday and a press conference at the Spring Center leading up to Thursday's match with Texas.  We will bring coverage to you throughout the trip.  Follow the blog and Twitter @GoPSUTony.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After a dominant 48-0 shutout over Lock Haven on Sunday, the fifth-ranked Nittany Lion wrestling team shifts focus towards a showdown with conference rival Ohio State on Sunday afternoon in Rec Hall.

Penn State kicks off the Big Ten season with a 2 p.m. dual against the 22nd-ranked Buckeyes on Sunday.  Leading up to this week's home dual with Ohio State, GoPSUsports.com sat down with head assistant coach Casey Cunningham for the filming of This Week in Penn State Wrestling.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The wind chill may read negative numbers in Happy Valley this afternoon, but the Nittany Lions will soon be in Florida for preparations leading up to the New Year's Day clash with the Florida Gators in the Outback Bowl.

The squad will gather in Clearwater, Fla., this weekend leading up to the first day of practice in Florida on Sunday.  Some of the Nittany Lions will participate in commencement ceremonies on Saturday in the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus before heading to the Florida sunshine.

Leading up to the trip, Coach Paterno received an important phone call over the weekend from David Montgomery, President of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Montgomery told Coach Paterno that Carpenter Complex, home of the Phillies' spring training, in Clearwater would be available for Penn State football to practice at next week.

The Nittany Lions will practice at Carpenter Complex from Sunday (Dec. 19) through the morning of Dec. 24.  From there, the team will head to Tampa in the middle of the afternoon on the 24th, which is when the families of the football coaches and staff will arrive in Tampa.

Carpenter Complex has four fields on site.  It was renovated with new offices, locker rooms, a larger weight room and an observation walkway for coaches in 2009.

The Outback Bowl is a superb reward for the Nittany Lions following the 2010 season.  And now, the team will have the luxury of practicing at the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Final exams will wrap up at the end of the week.  The equipment truck will head to Florida on Thursday. Practice begins Sunday in Clearwater.

The Outback Bowl is just 18 days away.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The three-time defending champions are on their way to the NCAA National Semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. However, this time the Nittany Lions travel to Kansas City with a much younger team that has faced much more adversity this year.

After seizing the NCAA University Park Regional Championship title last weekend, the Nittany Lions have found their way into the final weekend of play in the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament. Penn State defeated 12th-seeded Duke to move onto the National Semifinal, which will be held in Kansas City, Mo.

The Nittany Lions are up against stiff competition, as they face ninth-seeded Texas on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the Sprint Center. Penn State owns a 70-25 overall record in NCAA Tournament play, and has won 22 straight postseason matches. This will be the Nittany Lions' ninth trip to the National Semifinals, where they have earned four national titles overall.

Penn State head coach Russ Rose said that he is proud of his past and present teams that have accomplished such feats.

"It's great to have four and even better to think you have a chance to compete for another one," said Rose. "You should never take it for granted and you have to be appreciative of the opportunity that you have."

Rose said that this year was a little bit different than the past three, with a roster of younger talent and a season that handed the Nittany Lions their first loss in 109 consecutive matches. He acknowledged his players for their achievements this season.

"You know you come to work every day and you work as if you still have the same goals even if you don't have the same personnel that you had previously," said Rose. "For this team, which is a totally different team than the team that everybody else wants to talk about, it's a terrific accomplishment. For them to get on this stage, to be able to go there with the last few weeks starting three freshmen and having so many young kids out there, it's a great opportunity."

Coach Rose also said that he expects this weekend to be a new experience for the Penn State program, as well.

"I don't think we have the same expectations going in," said Rose. "I mean I don't look at us as the favorite going into the championships this year. I look at us as a team that had a favorable bracket, there were upsets along the way and we did what we were asked to do. We weren't responsible for the seedings, we were responsible for playing the game the way we needed to play and we're happy to still be standing."

The Nittany Lions practice in their home gym Tuesday for the last time this week before they fly out to Kansas City to defend their national title. They are preparing to face a hard-nosed Texas roster full of talent, and are specifically working on their defense and service game.

Sophomore setter Kristin Carpenter said that the team would especially be working on defensive style of play in preparation for the weekend.

"They have a lot of big guns on their team so probably defense," said Carpenter. "You can't go wrong with defense. If we win the serve-pass game I think we're going to be okay. We've got to serve tough and we've got to pass like we did against Oklahoma this past weekend."

Carpenter said she is extremely excited to be a part of such a great program, and even more excited to be traveling to Kansas City. She said that the Nittany Lions have even written down a few things that they will be bringing with them on the trip.

"We have a list of what to bring, and at the very bottom is bring your game face," said Carpenter. "I think that pretty much sums it up. We go to Kansas City ready to bring our best game possible and Texas is first."

The National Semifinal match will be aired live on ESPN2 on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Watch as the Nittany Lions take on the Longhorns, presenting a whole new Penn State roster to the final weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - We caught up with Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay on the trip to the Outback Back Contract Signing event in Tampa last Thursday.

With the Tampa skyline in the background, he gave GoPSUsports.com a message that he wanted to pass along to all of the Penn State fans leading up to the Outback Bowl clash with Florida on New Year's Day.

By Kyle G. Arslanian, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Lady Lions defeated the Maine Black Bears Sunday by a score of 95-41.  The 54-point margin of victory was not the lions largest this season, as they beat Rider by 74 earlier in the season.

Wide margins of victories can often lead to teams losing sight of their style of play and reverting to bad habits.  For The Lady Lions, this was not the case as they continue to build their game in anticipation of Big Ten play.

In this game, Penn State was up big very early, but the team's intensity did not falter and that is something coach Coquese Washington is looking for but would like to see her players communicate on the court better.

"I thought the intensity was where we needed it to be but then it is about playing at an intense level and being successful," said coach Washington.  "I thought we had too many breakdowns and most of the breakdowns came from lack of communication; talking to each other and listening. We have to have better at communication on the defensive end of the floor. If we get better at that then we will be fine."

The Lady Lions have not had any trouble scoring so far this season; putting up 90 or more points seven times in their first 12 games.  They are also getting balanced scoring, especially Sunday when the Penn State bench scored 42 points.  Not a single player took more than 12 shots and no one took less than four.  When a team has balance like that, it is hard to stop.

The players know that when Coach Washington talks about breakdowns, she means on defense.  After Thursday's game against Army, defense was a focal point for the team in practice.

"Defense was definitely a focal point for the rest of the week and for this ball game," said Maggie Lucas.  "We are trying to get back to playing Lady Lion basketball and living up to our standards."

Although they played stronger on defense against Maine, The Lady Lions felt they could have been better.

"There were some defensive possessions where we got a little lost and without our communication, it brought our intensity down," said Nikki Greene.  "Once we started talking, we got to where we needed to be."

In terms of score alone, the game was over early as the Maine Black Bears had scored just 13 points at the half to the Lady Lions' 49.  The score did not matter to Penn State, they had specific aspects of their game they wanted to work on.  The players feel that whether a game is close or not, it is important to play up their standards and not have lapses.

"It's not because of the score, but we just have mental lapses and breakdowns," said Lucas.  "It happens over the course of the game. It's important to not lose track of backdoor cuts or offensive rebounds."

Overall, Coach Washington was pleased with the game, especially with finals week looming for Penn State.

"I thought we played with intensity; we played with focus; we shot the ball well," said Coach Washington.  "We did a pretty good job of trying to go inside-out. We had a balanced offensive attack. Our bench got some good minutes and got some good runs.  That is going to be helpful for us. Going into finals week, I thought we were as focused as we could be."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Big Ten has a new look for the future.

Conference commissioner Jim Delany unveiled on the Big Ten Network Monday afternoon the new logo and division names for the future of the Big Ten.  Penn State will play in the Leaders division of the Big Ten beginning in 2011 football season.  The second division has been named the Legends division.

"We're honoring legends and building future leaders," Delany said.

The Big Ten division alignments with names:

Legends                                    Leaders

Iowa                                            Illinois

Michigan                                     Indiana

Michigan State                            Ohio State

Minnesota                                   Penn State

Nebraska                                    Purdue

Northwestern                              Wisconsin

After months of debate, the Big Ten opted for names that honor all of the great coaches, players, commissioners and faculty at the institutions around the conference.  Rather than focus on two specific individuals, the Big Ten elected to call the divisions Legends and Leaders.  Commissioner Delany was asked on a conference call following the announcement if the names were too bland, and this is what he had to say.

"All of these things will engender discussion," Delany said. "We want to engage our fans. All I can tell you is that we thought long and hard about what not to do. We thought harder about what to do."

In addition to the new division names and new logo, the Big Ten also announced 18 new trophies.  At the top of the list is the Stagg-Paterno Trophy to be awarded to the winning team at the Big Ten football title game.

There could not be a more fitting trophy name for the championship game.  It honors two of the greatest figures in college football history.  It is terrific to see Coach Paterno's name forever on the Big Ten Championship trophy.

"We're so proud of what he's done and so are his colleagues," Delany said of Coach Paterno.

There is now a clear-cut goal for the 2011 Big Ten season and beyond for the Nittany Lions - win the Stagg-Paterno Trophy.

Penn State Logo and Trophy Notes:

- The Smith-Brown Trophy will be awarded to the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year.  The trophy honors former Penn State All-American Courtney Brown and Michigan State legend Bubba Smith

- The Kwalick-Clark Trophy will be awarded to the Big Ten Tight End of the Year.  It honors former Penn State All-American Ted Kwalick and Iowa standout Dallas Clark.

- The Big Ten unveiled numerous different variations of the new logo.  We have included all of the logos below.  Take a look.  As for our thoughts on the logos, it is interesting to see the large variety.  The idea of creating horizontal logos and vertical logos will fit well on playing surfaces.  The horizontal logo will look good on a football field, while the vertical logo will fit nicely in paint of a basketball court.  It will be interesting to see how the conference integrates the logos with founding years on them.  At this point, it is unclear what type of setting those logos will be used in.  It is also interesting to note the change of shade in the blue on the logo from what it is now.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Watch to see head coach Cael Sanderson, freshman Ed Ruth and freshman Nick Fischer talk about Sunday's 48-0 win over Lock Haven.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome inside Rec Hall for GoPSUsports.com's live blog from today's matchup.  Penn State (6-0) tallied a 48-0 shutout against Lock Haven (2-2) to remain unbeaten on the season.

Check back throughout the dual for an update after every bout.

125 - Martellotti Opens Up with a Win

Freshman Frank Martellotti knocked off Lock Haven freshman Nick Hyatt by a score of 15-6 to hand the Nittany Lions a 4-0 lead in the dual.  Martellotti built a quick 7-1 lead heading into the second period, thanks to a pair of takedowns and a three-point near fall.  Martellotti opened up the second period with two more take downs en route to a commanding 11-3 lead heading into the third period.  The 125-pound bout is always a crucial one.  A quick start can really set the tempo for the dual, and this afternoon, Martellotti started strong for the Nittany Lions.

133 - Pearsall Pin Sends Crowd to its Feet

Sophomore Bryan Pearsall wasted little time handing Penn State a 10-0 lead in the dual.  Pearsall fell behind 2-0 in the opening seconds against Evan Kolb.  However, a quick takedown knotted the score at 2-2.  Pearsall was not quite done, as the sophomore notched a victory by pinfall at the 1:40 mark.  The Lititz, Pa., native is now 8-4 on the season. 

141 - Alton Remains Unbeaten

Standout freshman Andrew Alton, wrestling against his hometown school, came into Sunday's dual with nine pins in his first 11 collegiate matches.  He nearly made it 10 for 12 in the opening period against Lock Haven's Justin Loudon.  Nonetheless, Loudon narrowly avoided the pin.  Alton took a 7-2 lead into the second period after a strong opening three minutes.  Alton, who is ranked 10th in the nation, carried the momentum into the third period on the way to a 13-4 victory.  He is now 12-0 on the season, and the Lions lead 14-0.

149 - Molinaro Continues to Dominate

No. 6 junior Frank Molinaro defeated Owen Wilkinson by technical fall to put the Nittany Lions ahead 19-0. Molinaro dealt Owen Wilkinson an early takedown just shy of a minute into the first period, followed by a two-point and three-point near fall along with a takedown. Leading 9-1 going into the second period, Molinaro built a strong lead with another takedown and a pair of three-point near falls. Molinaro won by technical fall at 3:52 with a final score of 18-1.

157 - Taylor Rolls, Lions Up 24-0

Like Andrew Alton, redshirt freshman No. 3 David Taylor has been very impressive in his first full season on the mat for the Nittany Lions.  Taylor posted a 19-4 technical fall victory over Lock Haven's Seth Cresy.  Taylor appeared to be on track to win by pinfall late in the second period, but the horn sounded just before the Ohio native was awarded a pin.  Nonetheless, Taylor is now 12-0 on the season.  He is a crowd favorite for the Rec Hall faithful and is a fun wrestler to watch.  Penn State heads into the break up 24-0 over intra-state foe Lock Haven.

165 - Vollrath Awarded Win by Forfeit

James Vollrath was awarded a victory by forfeit at 165 pounds, which put the Lions up 30-0 in the overall dual.

174 - Fischer Wins in Dramatic Fashion

Wrestling his first match of the season at 174 pounds, Nick Fischer tallied a dramatic 7-5 victory with a clutch takedown in the final five seconds of the third period against Mike Khoury.  Khoury built a 4-2 after one period, and then added to his advantage with an early escape in the second.  Nonetheless, Fischer battled back with a takedown to set the score at 5-4 heading into the third.  A Fischer escape knotted the score at 5-5 in the third, setting up the dramatic finish.  Fischer grabbed a hold of Khoury's ankle near the edge of the mat with five seconds to wrestle, clinching a takedown and a 7-5 victory for the redshirt sophomore.  Penn State now leads 33-0 in the dual.

184 - Ruth Pins Bachman

Adding to another stellar day from the Penn State freshmen, Ed Ruth tallied his fifth pin of the season against Jacob Bachman at 184 pounds.  With Quentin Wright out of the lineup, Ruth wrestled at 184 pounds for the first time this season.  The time of Ruth's pin was 2:53 seconds.  He is a versatile wrestler with very quick hands.  The redshirt freshman is 11-1 on the season.

285 - Wade Puts and Exclamation Point on the Day

Cameron Wade, ranked sixth in the nation, capped off the afternoon with a victory by pinfall in 2:15 over Harry Turner in the heavyweight bout.  Ranked sixth in the nation, Wade has wrestled very well thus far in 2010.  He is 9-2 at heavyweight this season.

Final Thoughts

With a dominant victory over Lock Haven, Penn State will now kick off its Big Ten dual season with a showdown on Sunday afternoon against No. 22 Ohio State.  With a lineup featuring six freshmen and two wrestlers participating in weight classes for the first time this season, the Nittany Lions tallied three pins and two technical falls en route to a 48-0 victory over Lock Haven.  Granted, Lock Haven was wrestling without some integral pieces in its lineup, but the Lions were again impressive on Sunday afternoon.  Penn State is 6-0 heading into next weekend's bout with the rival Buckeyes.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's volleyball defeated Duke in four sets (25-19, 25-18, 23-25, 25-17) to win the University Park Regional Final and move on to the National Semifinal match in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, December 16.

Penn State stepped onto the court in front of more than 3,500 spectators to begin the match. As Duke's starting line-up was announced and the Blue Devils stepped onto the floor, the Penn State student section turned their backs to the opponent, sending a clear message to the Blue Devils.

Fans held up large signs at the start of the game that read 'Defend Our House', the motto that the three-time defending national champions have lived by for the entire season. In their 22^nd straight postseason win since 2007 and 94^th consecutive win at home, the Nittany Lions definitely practiced what they preach.

The Nittany Lions came out swinging, hitting an impressive .405 team percentage and taking the first set against the Blue Devils with a score of 25-19.

In the second set, the Blue Devils served tough and started to pick up on the passing of the Nittany Lions. Duke held Penn State to a hitting percentage of just .243, but the Nittany Lions pulled out a win late in the second set with a score of 25-18.

After the intermission, Rec Hall was ready to see the Nittany Lions hand out one more sweep in the postseason - but they didn't get one. Penn State dropped the third set to the Blue Devils with a score of 23-25.

Penn State won the first point of third set, but trailed the Blue Devils for the majority of the remainder of the match. The Nittany Lions were out-hit by Duke with just a .163 average compared to the Blue Devils' .227 team hitting percentage.

Penn State senior defensive specialist and libero Alyssa D'Errico said that the Nittany Lions got content with the way they had been playing, and ultimately let the Blue Devils control the set.

"I think we just relaxed," said D'Errico. "In the third game when they started putting the pressure on us a little bit we tightened up and shifted a little bit away from Penn state volleyball. I mean we're normally loose and energetic on the court, having fun - that's just our style of play."

But leave it to the Nittany Lions to make things interesting. Penn State came back in the fourth set with a vengeance to top the Blue Devils with a score of 25-17, closing the door on Duke's hopes of a Regional Championship.

D'Errico said that her fellow teammate Darcy Dorton had some words of wisdom for the Nittany Lions before they went out into the fourth set, and they really made a difference.

"In the huddle between the games you know Darcy just spoke about what our program is about and what we want to play like and how we want to leave this gym," said D'Errico. "We kind of came out with a lot of energy. One of the words that came in the huddle was passion - we wanted to play with a lot of passion in that fourth game and just show the fans what our team is about."

The Nittany Lions took the fourth set passionately and authoritatively. Freshman outside hitter Deja McClendon had a match-high 20 kills and recorded a .347 hitting percentage. McClendon also tallied 10 digs and four blocks, including one solo block. Penn State head coach Russ Rose said that although McClendon is known for her strong swing and hitting numbers, her defensive play was what made the difference against the Blue Devils.

"Deja had a great night," said Rose. "People will look at the box score and see that she had a great night in kills and hitting percentage but you know she received about two-thirds of the serves and she was our best passer and that's probably the thing that I'm most pleased about."

McClendon was almost speechless at the Nittany Lions' accomplishment.

"I don't even know what to say," said McClendon." It's a great feeling. Especially being at home and just winning that last game at home for the seniors - that's one of the best feelings I've ever felt."

Duke head coach Jolene Nagel tipped her hat to the Nittany Lions as well. The Blue Devils were the lone ACC team hanging on in the NCAA Tournament, and she was very pleased with the way her team played against the fourth-seeded Nittany Lions.

"I wouldn't say it was our best night by any means but that often happens when you're playing a strong opponent," said Nagel. "I think they played really well, I think they served really tough, I think they passed really well. It was difficult to get them out of system. Blocking-wise they took away a lot of things that we wanted to do so they really, I think had us scouted out well and put pressure on us from the very beginning."

As for Penn State, the team is ready to move on. Although they will no longer be 'defending their house,' the Nittany Lions will be defending their national championship title. Rose said that he is proud of his team for coming such a long way this season.

"They've had to work hard," said Rose. "The Big Ten is a very tough conference and we started off the Big Ten season losing our first match and you know we were 3-3 and they had to fight and I never let them off the hook of what the goals of this team and what the expectations of this program should always be."

For Penn State, the goal is still the same as it was in the beginning of the season: a fourth-consecutive national title.

With the top three seeded teams eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, (Florida, Nebraska, Stanford) the fourth-seeded Nittany Lions advance to the NCAA National Semifinal in Kansas City as the highest-ranked team remaining.

Penn State will play Texas on Thursday night.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In front of a boisterous Rec Hall crowd, the fourth-seeded Nittany Lion women's volleyball team knocked off Duke by a score of 3-1 in the NCAA Regional Finals on Saturday night.

With the win, Penn State will play in the NCAA Semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.  The four-time defending national champions will meet either Purdue or Texas in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday night.

Take a look at the in-match blog updates from the 3-1 victory over Duke.

Set One: Penn State 25, Duke 19

The Nittany Lions took advantage of the boisterous Rec Hall crowd in the preliminary stages of the match to build a quick 4-1 lead and push Duke back on its heels.  The Blue Devils answered the run with a 5-1 spurt to claim a 6-5 edge.  The Lions led 11-9 before a key sequence handed Penn State the momentum in the first.  A Kristin Carpenter kill, a combined block from Fatima Balza and Deja McClendon and then a kill from McClendon handed the Nittany Lions a 14-9 advantage.  From there, the Lions maintained a sizeable lead en route to a six-point victory in the first. McClendon tallied six kills in a strong set.  Libero Alyssa D'Errico played a superb first set with seven digs.  Penn State hit .405 in the first.

Set Two: Penn State 25, Duke 18

The second set began, just like the first with an early spurt from the Nittany Lions.  A combined block from Balza and Brown put Penn State up 5-2.  Leading up to the media timeout at 15-11, Penn State, the Lions were in control of the tempo.  However, Duke rattled off four unanswered out of the timeout en route to squaring the match at 15-15.  Penn State had seen enough, though.  The Lions responded to Duke's run with a 7-1 run of their own to claim a commanding 22-16 lead.  From there, McClendon finished things off, just as she did in the first, with a set-clinching kill.  Penn State is in complete control of the match as the teams head into the locker room for the break.  McClendon has been impressive in her first ever NCAA Regional Final match.  The rookie leads all players with 10 kills, but the key figure on the scoreboard is the 2-0 lead for the Nittany Lions.  Penn State is one set away from a trip to the National Semifinals in Kansas City.

Set Three: Duke 25, Penn State 23

Give Duke credit for battling in the third set.  Down 2-0 in the match, the Blue Devils played like they had nothing to lose.  Penn State led 14-13 mid-way through the set, but that would be its last lead of the set, as the Blue Devils made big play after big play on the way to a slim 25-23 set victory to trim the match score down to 2-1.  Penn State rallied from five down late in the set tie things up, but the Blue Devils answered with back-to-back kills to stun the Rec Hall crowd.  Give the Blue Devils credit, but the Lions took their foot off the accelerator in the third set and opened the door for Duke.  Nonetheless, the Lions still hold a 2-1 lead in the match.

Set Four: Penn State 25, Duke 17

After winning the first 11 sets of the NCAA Tournament, Penn State dropped its first set at the hands of a pesky Duke team.  The Nittany Lions responded in commanding fashion from the opening serve in the fourth set.  Ariel Scott blasted home a kill to put the Lions up 5-1 out of the gate.  A kill from Wilson put the Lions up 10 (15-5) mid-way through the set.  From there, an angry group of Nittany Lions put things on cruise control, winning the fourth set 25-17.  Freshman Deja McClendon equaled a career-high in kills with 20.  Blair Brown backed up her 24-kill effort on Friday with 16 kills on Saturday night.  Arielle Wilson added 12 kills in the victory.  Despite dropping a set, the Nittany Lions played a solid match to earn a spot in the National Semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.

Quoting Coach Rose

"Well, I thought it was a great crowd...I thought we were playing great in the first couple games.  We got a little careless in the third.  And then we re-asserted some things in the fourth.

"We competed hard against a team that plays hard."

Looking Ahead

For the fourth consecutive season, the Nittany Lions will compete in the NCAA Semifinals.  Penn State will learn its opponent in Thursday evening's matchup later on Saturday night (Either Texas or Purdue).  After a long, rigorous trek through the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions are again one of four teams left in the NCAA Tournament.  Penn State's run in the NCAA Tournament over the past four seasons has been truly incredible.  The Nittany Lions have won 22 consecutive matches in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to Nov. 30, 2007.  The top three seeds (Florida, Stanford and Nebraska) are all out of this season's tournament.  Penn State is the highest remaining seed in the draw.  Congratulations to head coach Russ Rose and the Nittany Lions for advancing to the NCAA Semifinals.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team heads on the road Sunday afternoon for a critical non-conference matchup with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Penn State (7-2) will take on a long, athletic Virginia Tech team in the penultimate non-conference matchup of the 2010-'11 season.  It is the last game before the Nittany Lions break for final exams next week.  Get ready for the game by watching assistant coach Lewis Preston in the "Next Game Primer" video scouting report.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The three-time defending national champions are one match closer to earning a trip to Kansas City, Mo. to defend their title.

Penn State swept Oklahoma Friday night in front of more than 3,300 spectators. Rec Hall was filled with the devoted Nittany Lion faithful as Penn State captured another win to set their home-winning streak at 93 consecutive matches.

The Sooners put up a good fight against the Nittany Lions in the first two sets, each ending with a Penn State victory of 25-23. After the intermission, Penn State came out with a new sense of urgency to take the third set and close out the match in a 25-15 win.

Senior middle hitter Blair Brown had a big night for the Nittany Lions, registering 24 kills to tie her career-high along with a .583 hitting percentage. Brown seemed unstoppable at the net as she pounded down one kill after another. Brown also recorded three blocks and six digs.

Senior middle hitter Arielle Wilson tallied nine kills of her own, hitting .571 for the evening. Freshman outside hitter Deja McClendon also had seven kills. Sophomore setter Kristin Carpenter controlled the offense smoothly, dishing out 45 assists and getting the ball to the hot-handed Nittany Lions.

Senior defensive specialist and libero Alyssa D'Errico was solid as well with 15 digs while freshman defensive specialist Ali Longo came in to deliver a few keys serves and register four digs of her own.

The Nittany Lions did a good job of controlling the left-handed hitters on the Oklahoma roster, and fended off tough serving by the Sooners. Junior setter Brianne Barker guided the Sooners offensively with 31 assists. Freshman middle blocker Sallie McLaurin recorded eleven kills for a .417 hitting percentage. Lefty red-shirt junior outside hitter Susan Boulavsky tallied nine kills as well.

Penn State head coach Russ Rose said that he was pleased with the performance of his team, and that he was not surprised at the outcome of the match.

"I mean I thought the match played out like I thought it would," said Rose. "I thought that Oklahoma was going to play really hard and their setter was going to do a great job of always keeping them in the match."

Rose was more than happy with the way his seniors played against the Sooners, especially the way that Brown stepped up her game.

"Certainly in Blair's case really I thought [Brown] was the star of the evening," said Rose. "I think she's a terrific talent. I think both of these guys [Brown and Wilson] are and you need them to play like that all the time."

Brown was very modest about her accomplishment, saying that the victory was earned by the team and not by her 24 kills.

"Everybody helps each other out so the middles were taking blocks and like coach just said I think [Carpenter] was great tonight," said Brown. "She was setting the ball and reversing the flow, doing a lot of really good things so yeah I just think it's a really good effort."

The Nittany Lions face 12th-seeded Duke at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday in the University Park Regional Final. Brown said that this next match and every match to follow are equally important.

"It's now or never," said Brown. "We have to have energy when we walk into the gym. We have all these people there supporting us and we have to win to go on so I think the energy is something that's got to be there, you've got to have that fire you know."

Rose commented on the match against Duke as well, recalling a time when the Nittany Lions played the Blue Devils on the road.

"Duke is in the position they're in because of how they play. I mean we played them last year at Duke and it was a very tough match with the big crowd and half the crowd was there because it was Megan Hodge's hometown and you know Megan Hodge put on a show at the end to get us the victory. Certainly Duke's aware of the fact that Megan's no longer with us and they're going to play hard."

"You know it's Duke - it's the NCAA championships," said Rose. "The sport might be different but the expectations should be the same."

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Missouri Tigers on Friday night in Rec Hall in four sets. Duke beat the Tigers 3-1, (25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22) and will move on to NCAA Regional Finals on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. The Blue Devils will be up against the Penn Nittany Lions, who defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 3-0 to advance to Saturday night's match.

The Blue Devils took the first set with a score of 25-19. The Duke offense took care of the set as the Blue Devils combined to hit .438, led by junior middle blocker Amanda Robertson with six kills and junior middle blocker and outside hitter Sophia Dunworth with four of her own.

After the Mizzou scored the opening point of the set, the Blue Devils came back and held the lead for the remainder of the game. Duke held the Missouri offense to just a .275 hitting percentage, and the Tigers made three service errors in the first set that proved to be detrimental to the outcome.

The Tigers' defense stepped it up and Missouri passed the ball much better in the second set to capture a 25-15 victory over the Blue Devils. The Mizzou held the Duke offense to a mere .233 hitting percentage as senior libero Caitlyn Vann tallied seven digs while the team put up a total of three big blocks.

Redshirt senior outside hitter Paola Ampudia led the Tigers offensively with seven kills followed by red-shirt senior outside hitter Julianna Klein with four. Freshman setter Molly Kreklow controlled the Mizzou offense nicely as she dished out 15 assists for the win.

The Blue Devils came back after intermission recharged and ready to play as they dominated the Tigers in a 25-19 win. Duke took set three to pull ahead in the match 2-1, handing Missouri a five-point run to open up the set. The Blue Devils led the Tigers the rest of the set.

Senior middle blocker Becci Burling led the Blue Devils with six kills, followed by Dunworth with four and sophomore middle blocker Christina Gray with three more. Duke ran their offense smoothly under the control of junior setter Kellie Catanach, who dished out 15 assists and held the Mizzou to just a .053 hitting percentage.

The Blue Devils finished off the Tigers in set four with a victory to win the match 3-1. Duke came out strong with an opening 5-3 point run against Missouri and controlled the match from there on out. Midway through the match at a score of 21-14, the Tigers went on an 8-4 point run, but it wasn't enough as the Blue Devils closed out the set for a final score of 25-22.

Duke head coach Jolene Nagel said she doesn't like to think too far in advance, but she feels that her team is ready for whatever may come their way.

"I have this superstition about looking too far ahead so we really try to contain ourselves and just think about the task at hand," said Nagel. "I think that obviously Penn State's a great team. They have phenomenal size. Because of the time of the year that it is, everyone's going to be going after it."

Nagel expects Saturday night's match to be a tough one, but she and her team are ready to play.

"We're really thrilled and really happy," said Nagel. "We're not done yet."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Fourth-ranked Penn State advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals on Friday night at Rec Hall with a 3-0 sweep of Oklahoma.  A dominant performance from Blair Brown carried the Nittany Lions into Saturday's Regional Final bout with Duke.

Take a look at the in-match blog updates from Friday night's win over Oklahoma.

Set One: Penn State 25, Oklahoma 23

The Nittany Lions faced a stiff test in the opening set of the match, but a late rally clinched a 1-0 lead.  With a big assist from a packed house in Rec Hall, the Lions rallied from 21-19 down late in the first.  A Kristin Carpenter kill sliced Oklahoma's lead to just one.  A crucial kill from Blair Brown capped a 4-0 run, which handed the Lions a 23-21 edge.  Katie Kabbes drilled home a kill to clinch the set.  Kabbes was huge down the stretch with a key block and two clutch kills.  Oklahoma's front line played very well in the first set.  It is shaping up to be an interesting match.  The largest lead in the first set was just two tallies.

Set Two: Penn State 25, Oklahoma 23

As teams get deeper into the postseason, you begin to turn more towards the veterans on the roster.  You cannot coach experience on the floor, and Friday night's match is a living example of that.  Blair Brown is putting on a clinic for the Nittany Lions as the match heads into halftime break.  Brown has tallied 14 kills on .500 hitting through just two sets.  She has been exceptional in the opening two sets of play.  She tallied two kills to set up match point before assisting on the set-clinching block.  Despite building a 21-16 advantage, the Lions fended off a late charge from the Sooners to claim another narrow set victory.  Penn State is hitting .362, largely thanks to Brown's dominant performance.

Set Three: Penn State 25, Oklahoma 15

The Nittany Lions found some breathing space in the third set en route to a 3-0 sweep of the Sooners.  Brown was again tremendous in the third set, tallying 10 kills in the third.  She equaled a career-high with 24 kills, and it came in just three sets.  The third set was tight in the opening half of the set, just as the first two sets were.  Nonetheless, the Lions closed the set on a 15-6 run to tally a sweep.  The key stat in the final game was just one hitting error from the Nittany Lions on .586 hitting.  Brown hit at a .583 clip for the evening.  Arielle Wilson added nine kills on a sizzling .571 hitting in the middle.  The two seniors carried the Lions in front of a tremendous Rec Hall crowd.

Quoting Coach Rose

"I thought the match played out as I thought it would.  Oklahoma did a great job."

"In Blair's case, I thought she was the star of the evening."

Looking Ahead

Penn State faced some adversity for the first time in the NCAA Tournament and responded with some of its best volleyball of the postseason.  To reiterate what Coach Rose said, Blair Brown stepped up with best match of her career on Friday night.  The numbers speak for themselves, but Brown took over and was virtually unstoppable when throughout the evening.  The Nittany Lions will return home on Saturday night for a clash with 12th-seeded Duke.  Penn State will again have a terrific crowd inside Rec Hall.  The match will air live on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m.  The Lions are one of eight teams alive in the NCAA Tournament.

Stay tuned for another in-match blog from Penn State-Duke in the NCAA Regional Finals.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - One day after media festivities in Tampa, the Lasch Football Building played host to Penn State's 2011 Outback Bowl media day.

Coach Paterno and several members of the squad met with local reporters throughout a snowy afternoon in State College.  With the trip to Tampa and bowl media day on campus, we have plenty of items in our notebook to pass along.  Let's take a look through the notebook from the past two days of media activities.

Joe Paterno and Urban Meyer

Joe Paterno and Urban Meyer met six years ago on a Nike trip.  Both head coaches have an incredible amount of respect for one another.  Watching the two interact at the Outback Bowl festivities on Thursday was great to be a part of.

Coach Meyer mentioned several times that he has looked up to Coach Paterno since he was a kid.  He takes notes whenever he is around Coach Paterno.  Coach Meyer even has a picture of Joe Paterno hanging in his office at Florida.

Following the reception on Thursday night, Coach Paterno and the Penn State staff entered a freight elevator in Raymond James Stadium with the Florida contingent.  At one point, the elevator door wasn't working, and Coach Paterno quipped that Florida was trying to hold him up. 

Coach Meyer turned to Coach Paterno and said, "Our flight home is 20 minutes, how about yours."

Coach Paterno responded, "I liked you up until now."

The elevator erupted in laughter before both groups went their separate ways on the way to the airport.

Speed of the Gators

As is the case every year the Lions prepare for an SEC opponent in the bowl game, several media outlets were curious for the squad's thoughts on the speed comparison between the two teams.  Several players had some interesting things to say.  Ollie Ogbu offered his thought on the subject with this statement.

"You can't match the speed until you play them."

The speed question is one that is often overblown.  Penn State has plenty of speed on its roster.  Additionally, the Nittany Lions played Alabama from the SEC in the regular season, not to mention Ohio State.  Needless to say, the Nittany Lions have seen plenty of speed this season.

Thrilled to be Heading to the Outback Bowl

The Outback Bowl is a tremendous game.  Spending time with several members of the Outback Bowl on Thursday, the game is thrilled to have the Nittany Lions.  Likewise, the team is excited about the opportunity to be in Tampa.  Florida is a superb opponent and the team is eager to play the Gators.

"To play a team with the tradition and the background that Florida has should be fun for any kid," Coach Paterno said.  "You only get to do some of those things once in your lifetime.  I want them to enjoy it.  I want them to have a lot of fun.  But yet I want to play well.  I think the best way to do it is to do what I just said:  give them some freedom, let them have a little fun, but when we practice, we practice, practice hard."

Traveling to Florida

The Nittany Lions practiced inside Holuba Hall on Friday afternoon.  They will do the same on Saturday before breaking for final exams next week.  The team will congregate in Florida on Dec. 18 to begin preparations for the Outback Bowl.  GoPSUsports.com will be in Tampa beginning Dec. 26 to bring you coverage on site with the Nittany Lions.  There are a number of events leading up to the New Year's Day clash with Florida the team will take part in, including a trip to the beach in Clearwater.  In the meantime, stay tuned for several videos that we will post from media festivities in Tampa and University Park.

Inside Media Day with Ollie Ogbu

Last, but certainly not least, we wanted to take Penn State fans inside bowl media day at the Lasch Football Building.  For anyone who has never been to a media day, take a look at what senior defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu has to say about Friday's festivities.  Ogbu introduces you to several members of the squad.  Enjoy.

Stay tuned for much more from GoPSUsports.com's trip to Tampa and Friday's Outback Bowl media day in Happy Valley.

TAMPA, Fla. - Coach Paterno spent most of the afternoon on Thursday meeting with several television and print media outlets in the Tampa area.

Take a look at some of his comments from the Outback Bowl contract signing media event at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUSports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The three-time defending national champions are gearing up for their NCAA Regional Semifinal match against the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday night. The Nittany Lions take on the Sooners at 6:30 p.m. in Rec Hall, after Missouri faces 12th-seeded Duke at 5 p.m.

The Nittany Lions hold record-setting 92-match winning streak at home and are only looking to build onto it this weekend.

The Sooners are coming off a huge weekend of tournament play. Last weekend, Oklahoma swept Wichita State in the opening round of play, defeating the Shockers for the first time since 1999. The next evening, the Sooners toppled Tulsa in a five-set match to advance to the final 16.

Oklahoma boasts a roster of talented athletes. Facing the Sooners, Penn State will be up against something they have not seen much of yet this far into the tournament - height. Three of the starters for Oklahoma are six feet or taller.

The Sooners do it all, and the Nittany Lions are preparing accordingly. Freshman middle hitter Katie Slay said that Oklahoma is the kind of team that is deep in talent, so she and her teammates are making sure that they focus on both sides of the net.

"Oklahoma's a really great team so we're excited to play them on Friday and we're just really trying to work on setting up our defense to what would help us best have a victory over them, and also try to figure out what would go best for our offense," said Slay. "It's just trying to figure out the match-ups and we're solely focused on Oklahoma right now because [if] you lose you're out, so you have to come into each match playing hard so it won't be your last."

Up against a strong line of left-handed hitters and 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-2 middle blockers, Slay recognizes that the Nittany Lions will also have to use their height to combat the Sooners.

"I think that our block always is able to help us not only if we get necessarily a block but we can get touches and it also helps set up our defense," said Slay. "Blocking, I think, will be very important."

Senior middle hitter Arielle Wilson said that while Oklahoma will be a challenge, the Nittany Lions are simply focused on earning a victory.

"We're just taking it a day at a time and just trying to focus on things we can control and what we can do to get better," said Wilson. "We worry about what we can control. We're just trying to do what we can do and just play off of that."

TAMPA, Fla. - Legendary head coach Joe Paterno, Director of Athletics Tim Curley and a few staff members traveled to Tampa on Thursday afternoon for the 2011 Outback Bowl contract signing event held at Raymond James Stadium, site of Penn State's New Year's Day clash with Florida.

GoPSUsports.com boarded the plane with the staff to the Tampa Bay area for the day's festivities.  Coach Paterno spent the afternoon interviewing with several members of the local television and print media before participating in the contract signing reception.

We had our camera rolling to take Penn State fans inside the trip to Tampa.  From media interviews to catching up with Florida head coach Urban Meyer and ESPN's Jon Gruden, take a look at this GoPSUsports.com exclusive.

Stay tuned tomorrow for much more from our trip to Tampa, including video remarks from Coach Paterno, Florida head coach Urban Meyer and Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fourth-seeded Nittany Lion women's volleyball team will continue its NCAA Tournament run on Friday night inside Rec Hall when it takes on Oklahoma at 7 p.m. in the Regional Semifinals.

After a pair of sweeps over Niagara and Virginia Tech in the opening two rounds, Penn State is now one of six Big Ten teams still alive in the final 16 of the NCAA Tournament.  The Nittany Lions again have the luxury of hosting NCAA Tournament action on their own floor this weekend.

Expect a big crowd on Friday night when the Lions clash with the Sooners.  Duke will meet Missouri at 5 p.m. prior to Penn State's match at 7 p.m.

As a primer to this weekend's NCAA competition, we spent some time with assistant coach Kaleena Davidson at practice one day this week for a video interview.  Watch a preview.

Stay tuned for much more on the All-Sports Blog leading up to the NCAA Tournament weekend inside Rec Hall.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Whether the Lady Lions (8-2) are scheduled to practice or not, Maggie Lucas is in the practice gym doing what she loves, shooting the basketball.

The sharp-shooting freshman guard attempts 1,000 shots a day in the Bryce Jordan Center.

When you ask her what percentage she shoots at in the practice gym.  Her answer is somewhere north of 80 percent.  In other words, she watches the basketball spin through the net more than 800 times every day in the gym.

Wednesday night was just another example of what Lucas brings to the floor for head coach Coquese Washington.  Lucas tallied eight points in the opening half on 1-of-3 shooting from the floor and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.  She let the game come to her in 13 minutes of action in the opening half of play.

Out of the break, Lucas drained a pair of 3-pointers and remained perfect at the foul line before checking out of the game near the mid-way point of the second half.  As she walked off the floor, Lucas suddenly had 20 points next to her name on the box score.

"I knew from the beginning that the focus was to get the posts a lot of touches," Lucas said.  "I didn't think they were big enough to guard our posts, and our posts are very skilled.  So, when I got my shots I took them.  I didn't try to force too much.  I just took the shots that I had, and I got fouled a lot, so I made sure to put those in."

She reached the 20-point plateau on just nine field goal attempts.  Granted, she was 10-of-10 at the foul line, but scoring 20 points on nine field goal attempts gives you a good idea of the type of scorer Lucas is for the Lady Lions.

Good shooters have a knack for scoring in the flow of the game, and Lucas illustrated the ability to do that once again on Wednesday.  She is a very mature freshman with a high basketball IQ.

Lucas' 12-point scoring spurt in the second half helped fuel a 25-5 run out of the locker room.  The Lady Lions led by as much as 36 in the second half en route to the 95-65 victory.

Moving forward, Lucas is going to play an integral role in Penn State's season.  She brings a tremendous spark off the bench.  When you field a weapon like Lucas as the sixth person in a rotation, it presents significant matchup problems for the opponent.

Lucas now has four 20-point games in the first 10 games of her Lady Lion career.  Lucas' sharp shooting is going to be fun to watch for the next four seasons.

It was just another night in the gym for No. 33, as Lucas finished with 20 points and a career-high five rebounds. 

Tomorrow, she will be back shooting 1,000 more shots.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Rec Hall will host yet another weekend of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament. The fourth-seeded, three-time defending champion Nittany Lions will be fighting to defend their title as they take part in the Regional Semifinals.

Play begins on Friday at 5 p.m. as the Missouri Tigers face 12th-seeded Duke in Rec Hall. Penn State will then take on the Oklahoma Sooners at 7 p.m. The winner of each match will move on to play one another Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. to determine which team will advance to the National Semifinals.

Missouri vs. No. 12 Duke
The 12th-seeded Duke Blue Devils face Missouri on Friday night for the opening match of the University Park Regional Semifinal. Missouri advances to the regional semifinals for the second-time in program history, while the Blue Devils make their first appearance in the final 16 since 1994.

Missouri
The Tigers are 22-10 overall this season, making their second trip to the final 16 where they entered their first trip back in 2005 - State College. Missouri pulled out a huge upset over fifth-seeded Northern Iowa in the first round of the tournament last Friday, and then defeated Northwestern in four sets to capture the second round on Saturday as well.

Four Tigers are averaging 2.32 kills per set or better this season. Red-shirt senior outside hitter Paola Ampudia leads the team with 4.10 kills per set, followed by red-shirt senior outside hitter Julianna Klein with 2.89, junior middle blocker and outside hitter Brittany Brimmage with 2.48 and freshman outside hitter Lisa Henning with 2.32 of her own.

Freshman setter Molly Kreklow will be controlling the Mizzou offense, averaging 11.70 assists per set for a total of 1,345 assists this season. The 6-foot-3 Brimmage has been versatile at the net as well with 117 blocks this season for an average of 0.97 blocks per set.

However, what sets the Tigers apart from other teams is their seemingly flawless defense. Four of the starting seven Tigers are averaging 2.31 digs per set or better this season. Klein leads the team with 2.50 digs per set, followed by Ampudia and junior defensive specialist Priscilla Armendariz with 2.37 digs per set and Kreklow with 2.31.

No. 12 Duke
The Blue Devils are the only Atlantic Coast Conference team left in the postseason. Duke topped High Point and Ohio last weekend on its home court to advance to the Regional Semifinal.

Senior middle blocker Becci Burling (3.02), junior middle blocker Sophia Dunworth (2.95), junior middle blocker Amanda Robertson (2.83) and sophomore middle blocker Christiana Gray (2.24) each average better than 2.2 kills per set this season while guiding Duke to a .249 hitting percentage.

Junior setter Kellie Catanach leads the tigers with 1,327 assists this season for an average of 11.25 assists per set. Senior libero and defensive specialist Claire Smalzer has been solid for the Tigers defensively with 386 digs this season for an average of 3.24 digs per set.
The 6-foot-5 Gray has notched an impressive 1.00 blocks per set this season, followed close behind by Burling with 0.94 of her own.

Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Penn State
The fourth-seeded Nittany Lions take on the Oklahoma Sooners Friday night in Rec Hall. This will be the first series meeting between the two teams.

Oklahoma
The Sooners had a big opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament, sweeping Wichita St. in the first round of play and then defeating Tulsa in a five-set match in round two. Oklahoma boasts an overall record of 23-10 and will be making its third appearance in the final 16 in program history.

Redshirt junior outside hitter Suzy Boulavsky leads the Sooners with 3.46 kills per set and hitting .275. Freshman middle blocker Sallie McLaurin is not far behind, averaging 2.36 kills per set with a team-high .315 hitting percentage.

Junior setter Brianne Barker is expected to be controlling the Oklahoma offense as she has tallied 1,309 assists this season for an average of 10.39 assists per set. Sophomore defensive specialist Maria Fernanda holds the top spot defensively with 540 digs this season, averaging an impressive 4.29 digs per set.

The Sooners have some height on their roster as well, attributing to the 6-foot-2 McLaurin's 152 total blocks this season for an average of 1.28 blocks per set. Standing at 6-foot-4, senior middle blocker Sarah Freudenrich has also been solid at the net averaging 0.75 blocks per set.

No. 4 Penn State
The three-time defending national champions find themselves just four matches away from their goal of capturing another NCAA Championship title. The Nittany Lions defeated Niagara and Virginia Tech last weekend to advance to this coming weekend's Regional Semifinals. Penn State is 28-5 this season, and is working on a 92-match winning streak at home.

Three Nittany Lions are averaging .318 or better in hitting this season. Senior middle hitter Blair Brown (.318) leads the team averaging 4.10 kills per set, followed by freshman outside hitter Deja McClendon (.332) with 3.34 kills per set and senior middle hitter Arielle Wilson (.424) with 2.68 kills per set.

Sophomore setter Kristin Carpenter has been taking care of things offensively, dishing out 1,197 assists this season for an average of 11.29 assists per set. Carpenter has guided the Nittany Lions to a .313 hitting average this season. Penn State has been solid defensively thanks to senior defensive specialist and libero Alyssa D'Errico, who has dug up 450 balls this season for an average of 4.09 digs per set.

At the net, height has helped the Nittany Lions dominate their opponents in blocking. The 6-foot-6 freshman middle hitter Katie Slay leads the team with 1.58 blocks per set, while senior middle hitter Fatima Balza is close behind with 1.34 and Wilson is averaging 1.12 of her own.

Each of the four teams will arrive in University Park looking to capture two more postseason wins. The winners of each match on Friday evening will face one another at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night in Rec Hall. The overall winner of the match on Saturday night will advance to the NCAA National Semifinals in Kansas City, Mo. on December 16.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Lady Lions (7-2) head into a mid-week clash with Army (3-5) looking to build on a solid victory over Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon.

The main catalyst in Sunday's 76-68 triumph was redshirt sophomore Mia Nickson.  In her first career start for the Lady Lions, Nickson poured in 26 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, marking her first career double-double.  She was a sizzling 8-of-10 from the floor.

Nickson is an active player on the low post every second she is on the floor.  After transferring from Boston College and sitting out last season, Nickson is beginning to find her groove in the rotation.  The Ashburn, Va., native has tremendous upside.

Coming off the best game of her Lady Lion career, Nickson spent some time with GoPSUsports.com for this week's Lady Lion Player Profile video feature.  Take a look to see what she has to say.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.  Check out the updates from tonight's dramatic victory over Mount St. Mary's.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Battle, G - Frazier, G - Woodyard, F - Brooks, C - Jones

Mt. St. Mary's: G - Josh Castellanos, G - Julian Norfleet, G - David Golladay, F - Shawn Atupem, F - Tayvon Jackson

First Half:

15:51: Penn State 9, Mt. St. Mary's 4

As coach Lewis Preston talked about in the next game primer video scout, the Nittany Lions needed the seniors to step up in the absence of D.J. Jackson.  Jeff Brooks answered the bell with authority on Penn State's first basket of the game.  Brooks' head was head high on a tomahawk dunk to put the Lions on the board.  Penn State's transition offense is off to a very good start as the Lions lead by five early.  Credit Cammeron Woodyard for a strong first stint in his initial start of his Lion career.  Woodyard is active on the glass and on defense.

11:24: Penn State 14, Mt. St. Mary's 8

Continuing with the Woodyard theme, the junior forward has been aggressive since the outset.  He has a pair of rebounds, a block and a 3-pointer from the left wing.  Woodyard's long ball put the Lions up six heading into the second media timeout.  Penn State needs to play better defense on the ball.  Mount St. Mary's is having its way off the dribble in the early going.  Nonetheless, the Lions are finding plenty of opportunities on the offensive end.

7:56: Penn State 16, Mt. St. Mary's 12

The Nittany Lions' defense off the dribble remains an issue in the early going.  The Mount has been able to get into the paint throughout the first 12 minutes.  All six of its field goals have been within 15 feet of the basket.  With the short bench tonight, the Lions have already used eight players.  The key figure to keep an eye on is rebounding, and the Lions are currently plus-five on the glass, which is key.

2:15: Penn State 24, Mt. St. Mary's 19

The Lions are now plus 10 in rebounding, which includes nine offensive boards.  That has been the difference in the first half thus far.  Neither teams is shooting north of 40 percent, but the differential in rebounding has put the Lions up by five.  Taran Buie has tallied five points off the bench.  Buie continues to get more comfortable with each passing game.  He is evolving into a consistent mid-range shooter.

0:00: Penn State 31, Mt. St. Mary's 22

Just when it felt like the Lions were going to push their margin to double digits, the Mount tallied a timely bucket to keep things close.  The largest lead of the ballgame is the halftime margin (nine).  Woodyard was the catalyst in the opening 20 minutes.  In his first start, the guard tallied eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers.  The first four minutes of the second half will be very interesting to watch.  You just have the feel that Penn State could bust things open with a spurt.  Nonetheless, the Lions head to the break up by nine after Woodyard's buzzer beating 3-pointer.

Second Half:

15:42: Penn State 35, Mt. St. Mary's 29

Just as the first half played out, Penn State sank the first basket of the second half to push its lead to 11, but The Mount had an answer.  Thanks to a 3-pointer from Julian Norfleet, Mt. St. Mary's manufactured a 7-0 spurt to slice Penn State's lead to 33-29.  Turnovers and inconsistency on the defensive end has kept the Mountaineers in the ballgame.  A runner from Brooks pushed the Lions' lead back up to six, but Mount St. Mary's is still well within striking distance.

11:15: Penn State 37, Mt. St. Mary's 36

When you have an opportunity to put a team away, you need to do it.  Tonight, the Lions have faced several chances to push their lead into double digits, but have only done it once.  After a pair of free throws from Battle, his first points since the 18:07 mark in the first half, the Lions led 37-31 with 13:49 to play.  Mount St. Mary's answered with five straight tallies to set the scoreboard at 37-36 with 11:15 to go.  Penn State has gone nearly five minutes without a field goal.

7:53: Penn State 44, Mt. St. Mary's 42

Mount St. Mary's claimed its first lead of the night on a driving layup shortly after the last update.  A Buie old-fashioned three-point play put the Lions back on top by two, but things have seesawed since then.  At the moment, the Lions lead by two.  Buie has been a nice spark off the bench with 10 points tonight on 4-of-7 shooting.  Brooks is also a point and a rebound shy of his first double-double.  The Lions need a spurt.

3:28: Penn State 49, Mt. St. Mary's 46

The number that stands out most on the box score at the moment is Battle's shooting.  The standout senior guard poured in 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting on Saturday.  Tonight, Battle is just 1-of-12 from the field, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range for five points.  Nonetheless, the Lions cling to three-point lead heading into the final 3:28 of play.  Brooks has registered the first double-double of his career with 12 points and a career-high 12 boards.

0:00: Penn State 57, Mt. St. Mary's 53

Talor Battle has done it again for the Nittany Lions in the clutch.  The last post highlighted his shooting struggles this evening.  But when the game is on the line, you want the ball in the hands of No. 12 if you are the Nittany Lions.  Battle scored Penn State's final eight points, including a 28-foot 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds to play.  The 3-pointer broke a 53-53 tie and clinched the victory for the Nittany Lions.  Battle added a free throw to finish with 13 points and eight rebounds on the night, despite being just 3-of-14 from the field and 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Final Thoughts:

It wasn't the prettiest of basketball games in the Bryce Jordan Center, but the Nittany Lions head off the floor with a victory, thanks to a dramatic 3-pointer from Mr. Clutch, Talor Battle.  Like he has done so many times in his career, Battle stepped up with an incredible game-winning shot to lift the Lions past Mount St. Mary's.  The Lions left the door open several times down the stretch for the Mount to score an upset, but Battle stepped up when the Lions needed him to.  The Lions will need to play better defense and improve at the foul line (11-18) leading up to a crucial trip to Virginia Tech this weekend.  For now, though, the Lions can celebrate another dramatic finish from Battle.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a strong showing at the Nittany Lion Open, the fifth-ranked Penn State wrestling team returns to dual competition this week.

The fifth-ranked Nittany Lions crowned four champions at the Nittany Lion Open on Sunday at Rec Hall.  This week, the Lions return to dual action with a clash against Lock Haven on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.  Leading up to this week's home dual with Lock Haven, GoPSUsports.com sat down with assistant coach Troy Letters for the filming of This Week in Penn State Wrestling.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team returns home on Tuesday night for a 7:30 p.m. tip against Mount St. Mary's inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

After a strong shooting performance against Duquesne, the Nittany Lions (6-2) will be looking for their seventh victory of the season against the Mountaineers (3-5).  Get ready for the game by watching assistant coach Lewis Preston in the "Next Game Primer" video scouting report, which was filmed inside the Penn State locker room.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It is going to be a busy few weeks leading up to Penn State's New Year's Day showdown with the Florida Gators at the Outback Bowl.

But the anticipation leading up to a bowl game is always enjoyable to follow.  The bowl season is rewarding to the student-athletes for a season's worth of work.  The media festivities officially kicked off on Monday morning with a teleconference featuring Coach Paterno and Florida head coach Urban Meyer.

We listened in.  Here are some of the more noteworthy storylines from the teleconference.

- Mutual Respect from Both Head Coaches

The conference call started with a short opening statement from Outback Bowl President and CEO Jim McVay before each head coach commented about the game.  Within the opening statements from both head coaches, they each talked about how much they respect one another.

Coach Paterno: "We are delighted to have this opportunity to play against Florida. As I said a while ago, Urban is one of my favorite people. It is going to be exciting to play against them especially in this setting being the 25th anniversary of a great bowl game and a great city. It is an exciting time for us, it is going to be an exciting event, and hopefully we will put on a good show for everybody."

Coach Meyer: "Coach Paterno is college football.  He's what it's all about."

- Slowing Down Florida's Speed

As is the case every time a Penn State team prepares for a clash with an SEC foe, the age-old speed question was brought up on Monday morning.  Coach Paterno expects the Gators to be a stiff challenge for the Nittany Lions with their speed.  With that being said, Coach Paterno stressed the importance to be in good position when making tackles.  A missed tackle in the open field will result in six points on the scoreboard from Florida.

- Injury Update on Michael Mauti

Coach Paterno noted that linebacker Michael Mauti has participated in bowl preparations and will be ready to play on New Year's Day.  That is great news for the Penn State defense.  Mauti evolved into an elite linebacker for the Nittany Lions in 2010.  He will play a huge role against Florida.

- Bowl Practice Schedule

Under NCAA rules, teams are allowed to practice 15 times leading up to a bowl game.  The Nittany Lions practiced on Friday and Saturday of last week.  They will do the same this week, with practice on Friday and Saturday before being off all of next week for final exams.  From there, the Lions will congregate in Florida after final exams to begin practicing outdoors.  Members of the football program are currently in Florida examining potential practice sites in Clearwater before moving to Tampa for the final week leading up to the game.

- Taking Care of Business

One reporter on the teleconference asked Coach Paterno about what he does in Florida leading up to the game on New Year's Day.  His response...

"I worry."

Why?

"Ordinarily they give me a place away from everything so I can look at film when I want to and I can get ready for practice and see if there is something I can learn from the tapes that might be helpful. It is a chore, not in the sense of something you don't like to do, I like it, it is just a challenge. I can't get to the beach, no. We are going down there and I got some work to do."

- Next Up

The next event on the schedule is the official contract signing in Tampa, which will take place on Thursday.  Both head coaches and athletic directors will be in Tampa to officially sign the bowl contract.  Bowl media day will take place in Happy Valley on Friday afternoon.  As always, stay tuned for much more coverage.

By Alexis Morgan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Lady Lions battled head-to-head against Texas Tech for most of Sunday's game and landed on top with a 76-68 victory. With the win, the Lions move to 7-2 while handing Texas Tech their first loss in their season.

The Lady Lions took charge, exploding out of the gates with a 9-0 lead. Throughout the afternoon, co-captain Mia Nickson was a key factor in the victory, establishing a dominating performance on both sides of the ball.

In her first career start, Nickson earned her first ever double-double, posting career highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds. Nickson contributed heavily at both ends of the court. Offensively, Nickson's 26 points led the team with point guard Alex Bentley tallying 16. On defense, Nickson was under the basket with every Lady Raider shot, grabbing rebounds, and surpassing a career of 100 boards.

This season, the Lady Lions have been plagued with slow starts.  Therefore, Coach Washington decided to switch up the starting line-up by adding Nickson in hopes that her physical presence would fire up the team.

"We were getting off to a slow start and I thought that if we could get Mia [Nickson] in the lineup [we could turn things around] ," Washington said.  "One thing she is pretty good at is rebounding the ball and she is good defensively. If we are going to struggle offensively, we could at least get some extra possessions with her crashing the glass. Just with her energy and the way she plays [could give us the spark we need]."

Nickson was unaware that she would start Sunday until game time, but said she would support her team in all aspects.

"I don't mind coming off the bench," Nickson said.  "I told coach that if she needed me to start, I could. Whatever the team needs, I'm here to support. If they need me to start, that would be fine."

Washington thought starting Nickson brought the edge the team needed to defeat Texas Tech.

"[I] definitely feel like she did [help the team to a quicker start]," Coach Washington said.  "She did a fantastic job posting up and giving us offense inside. At times we have struggled to get offense from in the paint and she gave us that. It put pressure on their defense."

"She was amazing down low, getting the other post players in foul trouble, making her shots, posting up strong and getting rebounds. Her performance tonight was really great," teammate Alex Bentley said.

Coming into the game, Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry was prepared to perhaps see a dominant performance by Nickson.

"Just how hard she works," coach Curry said.  "Her energy level is tremendous. She just plays so hard and is very intense and works and reworks and is relentless in what she's trying to do. Have to give her a lot of credit, she really worked hard and was a huge concern coming in."

Nickson's intensity on the court and hustle for every play indeed set the tone and energized the entire team.

"[Those plays] are humungous," Washington said.  "They give us that added jolt of energy. When we can get around and get those hustle plays, it just breeds confidence among everybody. It spreads.  You then see Maggie Lucas diving on the floor and you see Renee Womack diving in the passing lane. [Nickson's] energy is definitely infectious."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Throughout his stellar career, Talor Battle has found a knack to step up when the Nittany Lions need him to.

It's a fiber that most players do not have.  It's a fiber that you can't really coach.  It's something that Coach DeChellis has talked about in the past, but it's not something you can really explain.

Battle has an ability to take his game to another level when the Nittany Lions need him to.  Saturday night's performance from No. 12 was a prime example of that.

Coming off a cold shooting night in a home setback to Maryland in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the Nittany Lions needed the veteran to spark the squad in a non-conference matchup against a talented Duquesne team.

It was clear from pregame warmups that Battle was going to play with a purpose.  He moved through the layup line with an extra bounce in his step.  While most of the players trotted back to the end of the line, Battle moved at a swift pace on his way to touching the mid-court line after every shot and rebound.  He just had a look on his face that he was not going to be denied.

"Well he was out there 45 minutes before shooting practice today," Coach DeChellis said after the game. "He was one of the seniors who showed up early and was out there and was focused. We needed a big game out of somebody when DJ (Jackson) went down ad Billy (Oliver) went down and he's a senior and stepped up and made some big shots. He made some big plays."

Battle scored his first field goal at the 14:15 mark of the first half.  From there, the Albany, N.Y., native went on to pour in 31 points in a span of 34:15.  Coach DeChellis has said in the past that Battle is a much better scorer than he is a shooter.

But he combined both on Saturday afternoon.  Battle tallied a sizzling 12-of-18 shooting performance from the field, including 5-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc in his 31-point effort.  He also added eight rebounds and four assists to complement the fifth 30-point game of his career.

"I was just playing with the flow of the game," Battle said.  "Jeff (Brooks) was making some moves the whole game where we knew eventually he was going to start making them and he did. Whenever they found that I was just hitting shots - it was one of those days where I was really feeling good and confident shooting the basketball."

Battle is at his best when he scores in the flow of the game, as he mentioned.  He makes things look effortless when he lets the game come to him. 

As the squad prepares for Mount St. Mary's (3-5), it will likely be without D.J. Jackson and Billy Oliver.  Neither player is expected to play on Tuesday night.  Nonetheless, Battle and fellow senior Jeff Brooks will again step up on the offensive end of the floor.  Both players understand the significance of their role as seniors in the lineup.  Just look at the numbers.

The Nittany Lions (6-2) will clash with Mount Saint Mary's (3-5) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When it comes time for bowl season, Coach Paterno wants to match up with an elite team on New Year's Day.

And for the 25th time in his storied career and the third consecutive season, the legendary head coach got his wish as the Nittany Lions (7-5) will clash with national power Florida (7-5) on New Year's Day in the Outback Back at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.

As a Penn State fan, you can't ask for much more than a Penn State-Florida matchup on college football's biggest day.  It is a tremendous reward for the 2010 squad to earn a trip to a New Year's Day game against a superb SEC opponent.

Consider that Penn State will be playing a team in its bowl game that has won a national championship since 2004 for the third consecutive season.  Penn State clashed with USC in the 2009 Rose Bowl Game.  The Trojans won the national title in 2004.  The Lions defeated LSU in the 2009 Capital One Bowl.  The Tigers claimed the 2007 national title.  That brings us to the 2011 Outback Bowl opponent.  Florida won the national championship in 2006 and 2008.

Over the last six seasons, Florida owns a 64-15 record, which ranks fourth nationally.  In the same time span, Penn State ranks No. 10 with a 54-18 overall mark since 2005.  Two national powerhouses will meet on the same field in Tampa.  The quote from Outback Bowl President and CEO Jim McVay speaks volumes about the classic matchup that will take place on New Year's Day.

"When you talk about tradition and history of college football it just doesn't get any better than Penn State and the University of Florida," said McVay. "It's our 25th anniversary game and we can't think of a better way to celebrate it on New Year's Day than with Coach Paterno's Nittany Lions and Coach Urban Meyer's Gators."

With a team of Florida's stature and history now on the schedule, it should add some extra motivation to the Nittany Lions as they kick off preparations for the Outback Bowl.

The Gators will be looking to treat the Outback Bowl as a "home" game on New Year's Day. Gainesville is a mere 131 miles from Tampa.  This will mark the fourth time in six years that the Nittany Lions will be playing a team from the same state as the bowl game (Florida State, Texas A&M, USC and Florida).

Our advice for the Nittany Lion faithful, you ask? Pack your bags for Florida and wear white on New Year's Day.

The Nittany Lions and Gators have met just twice prior to this season's Outback Bowl.  Florida ousted Penn State in the 1962 Gator Bowl by a score of 17-7.  The most recent meeting came on New Year's Day in 1998 when the Gators tallied a 21-6 victory at the Citrus Bowl.

Coach Paterno is the all-time leader in victories (401) and fills a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame.  Florida head coach Urban Meyer has a 103-22 (.842) overall record since his head-coaching career began in 2001.  Meyer has the highest winning percentage among active coaches with at least five years of experience.  Coach Paterno is fourth on the active list with a .750 winning percentage over 45 seasons.

When you think of elite college football programs, Florida and Penn State among the nation's best.  And when you look through the potential sites and opponents for the Nittany Lions during this particular bowl season, this matchup is a win-win for everyone involved.

Now, the Nittany Lions will shift into preparation mode.  After a week wondering who would be on the schedule in January, Penn State can begin watching film on the Gators. The additional 15 practices leading up to the bowl game are invaluable for the young talent on Penn State's roster.

It's Penn State-Florida on New Year's Day in Tampa.  Can you ask for much more than that?

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions will play in their 25th New Year's Day bowl game under legendary head coach Joe Paterno when they take the field on Jan. 1 at the Outback Bowl.

With tonight's official announcement that the Lions will meet Florida, let's take a look at Penn State and the Outback Bowl by the numbers.

1,479,559: The total attendance in the Outback Bowl's 24-year history is 1,479,559.

65,657: The 2011 Outback Bowl will be played inside Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Raymond James Stadium's capacity is 65,657.  It will mark the second time this season that Penn State will play in an NFL stadium.

2007: Penn State's most recent trip to the Outback Bowl came in 2007.  Thanks to an 88-yard fumble return for a touchdown from Tony Davis, the Nittany Lions knocked off No. 17 Tennessee.  The key turnover fueled the Lions to a 20-10 victory over the Vols.

1999: The Nittany Lions played in the Outback Bowl for the second time on Jan. 1, 1999.  Facing the eventual No. 1 pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, QB Tim Couch, the Nittany Lions tallied a 26-14 victory over Kentucky inside Raymond James Stadium.  Kentucky jumped out to a 14-3 lead before the Lions rallied.

1996: Penn State's first trip to the Outback Bowl came on New Year's Day in 1996.  Thanks to a 27-point outpouring in the third quarter, the Nittany Lions rolled over Auburn by a score of 43-14.  A key touchdown pass from Wally Richardson to Mike Archie just before halftime put the Lions in control.

1986: The Outback Bowl's first game took place in 1986.  The game was known as the Hall of Fame Bowl at the time before officially becoming the Outback Bowl in 1995.  Boston College defeated Georgia by a score of 27-24 in the first game.

1,109: The distance between Beaver Stadium and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is 1,109 miles.  Pack your bags for Florida.

71: The average high temperature, according to the National Weather Service, on New Year's Day in Tampa is 71 degrees.

43: Penn State's 43 points in the 1996 Outback Bowl stands as the highest total by a team in the 24-year history of the bowl game.

37: The 2011 Outback Bowl will mark Penn State's 37th bowl appearance under head coach Joe Paterno.

25: Penn State will make its 25th appearance in a New Year's Day bowl game in the Joe Paterno era.

25: This season's Outback Bowl marks the 25th anniversary for the Tampa bowl game.

24: Joe Paterno is the all-time leader in bowl victories with 24.  Coach Paterno led the Lions to a 19-17 win over LSU in the most recent postseason appearance at the 2010 Capital One Bowl.

21: Penn State is one of 21 different teams to have played in the Outback Bowl.  Seven different teams from the Big Ten have played in the Outback Bowl.

18: The 2011 Outback Bowl will mark the 18th time the game has been televised by ESPN.  Monday Night Football announcers Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will call the action at this season's game on ESPN.

7: There have been seven Outback Bowl games decided by four points or fewer, including last season's 38-35 overtime victory for Auburn over Northwestern.

4: Penn State will be making its fourth appearance at the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2011.

3: Michigan and Penn State are tied for the most all-time Outback Bowl victories with three.

1: The 2011 Outback Bowl will kickoff on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m.  The game will air live on ABC.  We are 27 days from kickoff in Tampa.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fourth-seeded Nittany Lions defeated Virginia Tech Saturday night in Rec Hall to capture a second round victory in the NCAA Tournament. Penn State dealt the Hokies a three-game sweep (25-22, 25-22, 25-13) and has earned a spot in the NCAA Regional Semifinals.

Penn State extended its home-match winning streak to 92 consecutive matches with the win over Virginia Tech. Next weekend, Rec Hall will again be the host to tournament play as the Nittany Lions take on Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on Friday in the regional semifinals.

Senior middle hitter Blair Brown led the team with 11 kills, followed by fellow senior middle hitter Arielle Wilson who had eight of her own. Freshman outside hitter Deja McClendon was strong on the outside with seven of her own kills, as well.

Sophomore setter Kristin Carpenter guided the offense with 30 assists and put down the team's only service ace all evening. Senior defensive specialist and libero Alyssa D'Errico had a quiet night with just six digs, due to the tough serving and big blocking game that was going on at the net.

For Penn State, putting up big blocks against the Hokies made a world of a difference. The Nittany Lions recorded 15 total team blocks as Brown led the team with six total blocks, two of them were her own solo blocks. Freshman middle hitter Ariel Scott attributed to five blocks, and senior middle hitter Fatima Balza had five, as well.

The block was one of the most effective things that the Nittany Lions could use against a tough-serving and quick Virginia Tech offense. Penn State's defense held the Hokies to a .031 hitting percentage in the second set, and just a .154 average in the third and final set.

Penn State head coach Russ Rose said that the block was key to the evening's match, and that he thought his team did a nice job executing the skill. Rose noted that in order to beat the Hokies, he knew his team was going to have to be tight at the net.

"We needed to block because I didn't think we would dig," said Rose. "They run such a fast offense behind the block that in the second game we weren't serving well and their fans were making a lot of noise and a couple of our kids got a little tentative and you know one thing led to another."

Rose mentioned that most of the action during the night's match involved a big block or a big kill.

" I thought if we could pass the ball that we could do some things well and I thought Deja [McClendon] did a nice job attacking and Blair [Brown] and [Arielle Wilson] had some moments where they couldn't stop them but really for us tonight is was more about blocking," said Rose. "There were not a lot of digs. I mean [D'Errico] had two digs after two games so there were not a lot of balls that were being dug. They were either being blocked or they were kills."

Brown tipped her hat to the Hokies, saying that they were a tough team to play against because of their speed and tough serving.

"They're very well coached," said Brown. "You can tell they run a very quick offense. Tonight we needed to really work on our blocking and get that down and we were successful there so I think that really helped us."

Brown said that she especially enjoys putting up a big block, and that she and her teammates get an energy boost whenever they can take away a big kill from their opponent.

"I mean I think any play that you make is an energy changer on the court and that's one of them so if I can help bring the energy up that's what I'm going to do."

Virginia Tech head coach Chris Riley said that he and his team knew what they were up against, and he was pleased with the way the Hokies stuck with every play they made.

"I couldn't be more proud of our team," said Riley. "We struggled tonight but we played against a great Penn State group and you know they were physical and they were humungous blocking."

Riley agreed that the Nittany Lions' blocking game was very effective, and he attributed a lot of the Hokies' defeat to the height and talent of the Penn State defense.

"We struggled setting the outside and playing on the outside and against a team with 6-6 and 6-5 blocking you know you've got to be able to move them around and you know we struggled to do that at times tonight," said Riley. "In this environment for the first time of that kind of caliber you know at times it got to us but in general I think our kids really enjoyed the atmosphere of it and didn't really play tentative or scared at any time."

The Nittany Lions are excited for what lies ahead. Brown said that she is proud of her teammates for coming such a long way this season, and knows that Penn State will keep working hard to get where they want to be.

"I think every single game in the tournament you have to get better, you have to progress," said Brown.  "This whole year for us has been about progression and we just need to continue doing that throughout the tournament."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com match blog for Penn State women's volleyball.  We are thrilled to bring you live coverage from press row at Rec Hall.

A berth to the NCAA Regional Semifinals is on the line this evening inside Rec Hall as the Nittany Lions clash with the Hokies.  The winner will advance into the University Park Regional Semifinals, which will take place on Friday night inside Rec Hall.

Check back for updates at the end of every set and a wrapup after the match.

Set One: Penn State 25, Virginia Tech 22

It was a hard fought opening set in front of Rec Hall.  Like we mentioned last night, the Nittany Lion faithful did a tremendous job willing on the Nittany Lions as the scoreboard see-sawed throughout the initial set.  Penn State's largest was four in the first.  The Hokies knotted the set at 19-19 after a kill.  However, the Nittany Lions mounted the clutch rally they needed to claim a one-set lead.  Blair Brown kicked things off with a powerful kill on the outside to put the Lions up one.  The Hokies got within two (24-22), but Arielle Wilson finished things off with a kill.  Penn State's serving wasn't as crisp as it needed to be, but the Lions made big plays at the key time.  The Lions hit .500 in the opening set, which is a very good sign.

Set Two: Penn State 25, Virginia Tech 22

Thanks to a furious rally, the Nittany Lions claimed the second set in dramatic fashion.  Penn State trailed 15-10 mid-way through the set before an Ariel Scott block kick-started the spurt.  A pair of kills from McClendon trimmed the Virginia Tech margin to just one (16-15) before the Hokies burned a timeout.  In all, the Lions mounted an 11-3 charge en route to a 21-18 advantage.  Two key blocks from Brown capped off the set victory for the Lions.  It was Penn State's block and a big assist from the Rec Hall crowd that fueled the come-from-behind victory.  Despite hitting just .160, the Lions head into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.

Set Three: Penn State 25, Virginia Tech 13

The third set started just as the other two sets did.  The Lions and Hokies battled for most of the set before Penn State turned up the wick when it needed to late in the going.  However, the third-set spurt came a little earlier than the first two.  Penn State tallied a 9-2 run to claim a 19-12 edge after McClendon belted a kill.  Prior to Penn State's late surge, neither team led by more than five tallies in the match.  Credit the Hokies for playing very well in their first ever visit to the NCAA Tournament.  But the Nittany Lions tallied a 3-0 sweep to move on.  Crisper passing and serving are crucial as the season continues. Brown led the way offensively with 11 kills.  The Lions hit .321 for the match.  To reiterate what Coach Rose said after the match, It is nice to advance in the month of December.

Quoting Coach Rose

"It was a tough match against a great opponent that played very hard.  I thought Virginia Tech competed hard."

"We thought blocking would be key for us."

Looking Ahead

Penn State will return home on Friday night in the Regional Semifinals against Oklahoma.  The Sooners edged Tulsa by a score of 3-2 to earn a trip to Rec Hall.  Credit Virginia Tech for a strong effort, but the Lions turned up the wick when they needed to.  We are already looking forward to the NCAA Regional semifinals and finals at Rec Hall next weekend.  The other regional semifinal will feature Duke and either Missouri or Northwestern.  It is a great two days of volleyball leading up to a berth to the national semifinals for one of the four teams in action. 

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No.4-seed Nittany Lions defeated Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Niagara on Friday night in Rec Hall to take round one of the NCAA Tournament.

Penn State swept the Purple Eagles, (25-12, 25-19, 25-15) and thanks to the win at home the Nittany Lions set yet another record. The win over Niagara gives Penn State the top spot in the history of NCAA Division I women's volleyball records with a winning streak of 91 matches at home.

Senior middle hitters Blair Brown and Arielle Wilson got it done offensively for the Nittany Lions as they each put down nine kills against the Purple Eagles. Freshman middle hitter Ariel Scott and freshman outside hitter Deja McClendon followed close behind with six kills each, and were forces to be reckoned with at the net. Wilson led the team with a .643 hitting percentage for the evening as well.

Senior defensive specialist and libero Alyssa D'Errico showed up ready to play as she jumped up and down in excitement during warm-ups. The senior co-captain gave everything she had, diving to dig up 11 balls on the night. D'Errico impressed the crowd more than once with her fancy digs and commanding serves. D'Errico put down services aces against Niagara.

Head coach Russ Rose said that he was thankful to be able to host the NCAA Tournament again, and that he was relatively happy with the way his team played.

"I thought it was a match where we knew that Niagara was going to play hard and you know we needed to make sure that we controlled the ball and I thought we did a pretty nice job from the end line," said Rose. "It was a match where we had an opportunity to control the ball. We didn't make a lot of errors but we certainly put ourselves in a tough situation a few times."

The Nittany Lions put themselves into several tight spots during the second set against Niagara, and Rose said these situations did not go unnoticed.

"I'm educated in the national championship pursuits and this wasn't a great effort out there," said Rose.

Wilson agreed with Rose and said that she also noticed how she and her teammates seemed to be playing down to the Purple Eagles.

"Usually though when you play a team with a slower pace you kind of get in the mix of it all and so we just need to play our game and do what we can control," said Wilson. "I definitely think we need more energy, a sense of urgency and just have everybody trust each other and know that we got this."

Penn State now faces Virginia Tech in round two of the tournament tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Hokies defeated the Delaware Blue Hens on Friday evening 3-0. The three-time defending national champion Nittany Lions are not only looking to improve their home-match winning streak, but also take one step closer to their ultimate goal of a national championship.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com match blog for Penn State women's volleyball.  We are thrilled to bring you live coverage from press row at Rec Hall.

Penn State opened its national title defense with a 3-0 win over Niagara on Friday night.  The Nittany Lions will take on Virginia Tech on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

First Match Recap: Virginia Tech 3, Delaware 0

Virginia Tech cruised to a 3-0 victory in the opening match of the evening in Rec Hall.  The Hokies tallied a 25-17 victory in set one.  Delaware fought back in set two, but the Hokies made big plays when they needed to late in the set to score a 25-23 victory in set two.  From there, Virginia Tech rolled to a 25-18 win over the Blue Hens.  The Hokies made the most of their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.  They will meet either Penn State or Niagara in the second round on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

#4 Penn State 3, Niagara 0

Set One: Penn State 25, Niagara 12

Hosting postseason competition is a boost for any team.  For the Nittany Lion women's volleyball squad, Rec Hall provides an outstanding atmosphere for any match, let alone the postseason.  This group of Lions has played exceptionally well at home throughout the season.  The initial set of the first round in the NCAA Tournament was no exception.  Penn State jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind a nice boost from freshman middle hitter Katie Slay.  With the score resting at 7-5, the Lions took command with an 11-1 spurt to claim an 18-6 edge.  From there, Penn State cruised to a comfortable victory.  Freshman Ariel Scott led the way with four kills in the set.  Penn State's size across the front line has pushed the Purple Eagles back on their heels.

Set Two: Penn State 25, Niagara 19

Despite dropping the first set, Niagara was unfazed throughout a much closer second set.  The Purple Eagles led for much of the first half of the set before the Nittany Lions claimed an 11-10 edge.  From there, Niagara would get as close as 19-18, but Penn State turned up the wick in the latter stages of the set.  The Lions closed things out with a 6-1 run, which was capped off with a thunderous service ace from Alyssa D'Errico.  After hitting .480 in the first set, the Lions managed just .208 hitting in the second, which included four errors.  Give credit to Niagara for playing hard in the second, but Penn State owns a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

Set Three: Penn State 25, Niagara 15

Like the second set, Niagara kept things close in the early stages of the third set.  Nonetheless, Penn State again turned up the wick when it needed to mid-way through the final set.  Behind three straight kills from freshman Deja McClendon, the Lions rattled off four straight kills to claim a 15-6 lead.  From there, the Lions put things on cruise control en route to a 25-15 victory and a 3-0 sweep.  The Lions hit .406 in the third set and .370 for the match.  Seniors Blair Brown and Arielle Wilson led the way with nine kills apiece.  The Lions now shift focus towards Saturday's second round match with Virginia Tech.