DALLAS, Texas - The Nittany Lions wrapped up their final day of bowl practice under sunny skies at Bishop Lynch High School on Saturday morning.  Penn State and No. 19 Houston are set to collide in the TicketCity Bowl on Monday at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.

As is the tradition on the final day of practice, the Nittany Lion players switched jersey numbers.  Senior tackle Chima Okoli wore Rob Bolden's No. 1 jersey.  Sophomore running back Silas Redd wore Devon Still's No. 71.  Among the other number changes were Gerald Hodges in No. 50, Derek Moye in No. 56, Rob Bolden in No. 75.  Running back Derek Day, normally No. 24, opted to go for the Chaz Powell look in the final practice.

Day wore wristbands, several layers of high socks, armbands and Powell's No. 2 jersey to look the part of the Nittany Lion senior cornerback.  Day joked that he would need to get a few tattoos to complete the look.

After practice ended, Okoli wanted to take a few snaps and show the fans his quarterbacking skills while wearing No. 1 jersey and QB wristband.  Take a look.

Gerald Hodges wearing No. 50

Silas Redd in No. 71.

The offensive line in new numbers.

Chima Okoli looking the part of a quarterback.

VIDEO: TicketCity Bowl Offense Interviews

DALLAS, Texas - The TicketCity Bowl will feature a battle of strength on strength, as it will pit Penn State's stout defense against Houston's high-powered offensive attack. Triggered by record-breaking quarterback Case Keenum, the Cougars pass-oriented, fast-pace offense ranks No. 1 in the nation in total (599.0 ypg) and scoring offense (50.8 ppg).

As part of its preparations for facing Houston, Penn State attempted to simulate its quick tempo in practice by using two separate offensive scout teams to run plays in rapid succession against the first team defense.

Prior to Friday's practice, cornerback Chaz Powell, linebacker Nate Stupar, co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden and co-defensive coordinator/defensive line Larry Johnson spoke about the test that lies ahead for the Penn State defense on Monday.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

Photo Gallery - Dec. 30

VIDEO - TicketCity Bowl Defense Interviews

DALLAS, Texas - The Nittany Lions traveled to Bishop Lynch High School for the fourth practice of game week on Friday leading up to the Jan. 2 TicketCity Bowl clash with No. 19 Houston.

As has been the theme throughout the week, sunny conditions and temperatures in the 60s greeted the Lions at practice.  The Nittany Lions practiced in shoulder pads and shorts on Friday.  Sophomore quarterback Rob Bolden took the snaps with the first team offense, and interim head coach Tom Bradley said on Friday that the plan is to have Bolden start the game.  Junior Matt McGloin is still undergoing medical tests before he is cleared to practice.

GoPSUsports.com was there to provide highlights of the fourth day on the field in Texas.  Also, watch video remarks pertaining to the Nittany Lion offense as it prepares for the Houston defense.  Penn State is prepping for a sure-tackling group of Cougars on the defensive side of the ball.  Take a look at comments from assistant coach Jay Paterno, junior wide receiver Justin Brown and senior running back Joe Suhey.

DALLAS, Texas - Penn State assistant coach Galen Hall is no stranger to the Lone Star State and the city of Dallas after coaching with the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.

Hall spent one season on the Cowboys staff coaching the running backs before joining the Penn State staff.  In 2002, Hall had the privilege of coaching Emmitt Smith during the season in which Smith broke the NFL career rushing record mark (18,355 yards).

Hall also coached in Dallas' famed Cotton Bowl Stadium, home of Penn State's Jan. 2 clash with Houston, as a member of the Oklahoma coaching staff from 1966-'83 in the Sooners' annual clash with the Texas Longhorns.  GoPSUsports.com caught up with Hall prior to practice this week in Dallas for his thoughts on returning to Texas.

DALLAS, Texas - The Nittany Lion football team and travel party attended its first official TicketCity Bowl event on Thursday night at Gilley's Dallas.

The Texas restaurant and performance center played host to eight buses of Nittany Lion student-athletes and staff members for an evening of Texas BBQ, country music and entertainment.  The Lions enjoyed a Texas-sized dinner with a buffet featuring local potato salad, baked beans, barbecued chicken, beef brisket, apple crisp and ice cream.

Additionally, the Nittany Lion players received watches from the TicketCity Bowl before several members of the squad participated in a comical 45-minute session of hypnosis under professional hypnotist C.J. Johnson.  Take a look at some of the highlights and hear from several Nittany Lions.

DALLAS, Texas - Check out photos from Thursday's practice at Bishop Lynch High School in Texas.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

PHOTOS: TicketCity Bowl Practice - Dec. 29

DALLAS, Texas - The Nittany Lions practiced for the third time in Texas on Thursday morning leading up to the Jan. 2 clash with Houston in the TicketCity Bowl.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 60s greeted the team for a practice conducted again in full pads at Bishop Lynch High School.  GoPSUsports.com was there to provide highlights of the third day on the field in Texas.  Also, watch video remarks from senior defensive end Eric Latimore, senior cornerback and Texas native D'Anton Lynn and sophomore kicker/punter Anthony Fera.

DALLAS, Texas - Check out photos from a busy Wednesday in the Lone Star State.

Cowboys Stadium Tour

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PHOTO - Wednesday Bowl Practice & Cowboys Stadium Tour

DALLAS, Texas - Penn State junior cornerback Stephon Morris fulfilled a dream on Wednesday afternoon when he and members of the Nittany Lion football team visited Cowboys Stadium, the $1.3 billion home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Morris, a lifelong Cowboys fan, and members of the Penn State squad received guided tours of the immaculate structure in Arlington, Texas.  Among the many features of Cowboys Stadium, which opened in 2009, are the 160-by-72-foot long video boards stretching from 30 yard line to 30 yard line on both sides of the stadium.

The tour included a stop in the Cowboys locker room where several Nittany Lions took photos next to former Penn State great Sean Lee's locker.  Seating 80,000 for football with room for standing room crowds in excess of 20,000 more fans, Cowboys Stadium has played host to the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, boxing, bowling, concerts and motocross races, in addition to football games.

Originally estimated at $650 million, the final cost of the stadium topped $1.33 billion.  Take a look at Penn State's tour of Cowboys Stadium.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

VIDEO - Penn State Football Tours Cowboys Stadium

PHOTO - Wednesday Bowl Practice & Cowboys Stadium Tour

DALLAS, Texas - The Nittany Lions returned to Bishop Lynch High School just outside of Dallas for their second practice in the Lone Star State leading up to the Jan. 2 TicketCity Bowl clash with Houston on Wednesday.

Sunny skies and temperatures near 60 degrees again greeted the team for a practice conducted in full pads.  GoPSUsports.com was there to provide highlights of the second day on the field in Texas.  Also, watch video remarks after practice from senior defensive end Jack Crawford, junior running back Michael Zordich and junior center Matt Stankiewitch.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's hockey team is prepping for a rare opportunity to play outdoors as part of the Winter Classic Festivities.

Penn State, competing in its final season at the club level, will take on NCAA DIII Neumann University at Citizens Bank Park - home of the Philadelphia Phillies - at 8 p.m. on Jan. 4.

The ACHA Penn State squad is 14-2 in its final season at the club level before transitioning to NCAA status next season.

GoPSUsports.com caught up with head coach Guy Gadowsky for his thoughts on playing outdoors and some of his outdoor experience as a player.

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 TicketCity Bowl clash with Houston.  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.

Get Off to a Fast Start
Aside from Chaz Powell's season-opening kickoff return for a touchdown, Penn State scored just two touchdowns on its opening drives this season.  Playing the top scoring offense in the nation at the bowl game, there is no better time to hang seven points on the board early in the first quarter.  The Nittany Lions can ill afford to fall behind early against an offense averaging 50.77 points per game.  Throwing the first punch will take some pressure off the defense.  So, I'm asking for a touchdown or two in the first quarter.  Is that too much to ask for?  Nah, not with Silas Redd in the backfield and Derek Moye lined up on the outside after a month of rest.

Make Special Teams, Special
Penn State's special teams started fast in 2011 with a return for a touchdown on the opening play of the season, but the return game has been quiet since.  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 earlier this fall, but I will gladly accept a score in the bowl game.  With a tremendous offense on the other side of the ball, a special teams touchdown could be a big boost.  Raise your glass to a special effort for Penn State's special teams.

Turnovers, What turnovers?
The Lions were minus-6 in the turnover margin during their three losses in 2011.  Penn State committed a total of eight turnovers in its setbacks to Alabama, Nebraska and Wisconsin.  Like special teams play, turnovers are critical in big games.  Winning the turnover battle is an area that could also be a big boost against the Cougars.  Houston is ranked No. 7 in the nation in turnover margin.  Cougar quarterback Case Keenum has thrown for 45 touchdowns and 5,099 yards with just five interceptions.  The Nittany Lion defense has forced 22 miscues in 2011.  A couple more forced turnovers could go a long way against the high-powered Houston offense.

White New Year's
Children around the world are dreaming of a white holiday season.  As is the case every bowl 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 Cotton Bowl Stadium to give the Lions an added boost from the 12th man.  Houston's campus is just 244 miles from the stadium.  Houston's fans will travel in large numbers, but I am dreaming of a Penn State white New Year's.

Big Game, Big Plays
Two teams with a combined record of 21-4 will clash inside the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2.  Houston is no stranger to big plays on offense.  This year's Cougars are the seventh highest ranked scoring offense in NCAA history.  The Nittany Lions have tallied 38 plays of 20 or more yards from scrimmage in 2011.  Additionally, the Lions made 81 tackles for a loss and 29 sacks on defense during the season.  Putting pressure on Keenum will play a crucial role in the game.  Blitzing from the linebacker corps and pass rush from Devon Still and the front four could lead to a big play or two.  So, throw a couple big plays on the holiday wish list.

Carry the Blue and White Banner
Penn State was one game away from playing in the Big Ten Championship Game earlier this month before its setback at Wisconsin.  The season did not finish how the players wanted it to.  No group has faced more adversity than the Nittany Lion student-athletes have in 2011.  The senior class deserves a proper sendoff on Jan. 2.  After countless hours of work on the Penn State campus, the seniors have one more opportunity to put on one of the most iconic uniforms in college football.  Make it count.

Happy Holidays from GoPSUsports.com
See you in Dallas

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

Bowl Preview Interview - Tom Bradley

Bowl Preview Interview - Silas Redd & Joe Suhey

Bowl Preview Interview - Drew Astorino & Jordan Hill

Bowl Preview Interview - Derek Moye


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com caught up with a number of Nittany Lions on TicketCity Bowl Media Day leading up to Penn State's trip to Dallas for the clash against Houston.

Senior captain Quinn Barham has been an anchor on the Nittany Lion offensive line for the past two seasons.  The North Carolina native has played a significant role in helping the Lion running game tally 4.2 yards per carry in 2011.

Like the rest of the squad, Barham is home for the holidays with his family before making the trip to Dallas on Dec. 26.  The senior tackle said that he has not been home for the holidays since he was a senior in high school in 2006.  Take a look at what Barham has to say about what life is like in the Barham household during the holidays and his unique Nutcracker collection.

Bowl Preview Interview - Tom Bradley

Bowl Preview Interview - Silas Redd & Joe Suhey

Bowl Preview Interview - Drew Astorino & Jordan Hill


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com caught up with a number of Nittany Lions on TicketCity Bowl Media Day.  Stay tuned throughout the week for several interviews leading up to Penn State's trip to Dallas for the TicketCity Bowl against Houston.

Senior captain Derek Moye became one of the Big Ten's best receivers during his time in Happy Valley.  The Rochester, Pa., native caught 40 passes for 654 yards in 2011.  Despite missing two games with a foot injury, Moye played a significant role on the Nittany Lion offense throughout the season.

Bowl Preview Interview - Tom Bradley

Bowl Preview Interview - Silas Redd & Joe Suhey

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com caught up with a number of Nittany Lions on TicketCity Bowl Media Day.  Stay tuned throughout the week for several interviews leading up to Penn State's trip to Dallas for the TicketCity Bowl against Houston.

Senior captain Drew Astorino and junior defensive tackle Jordan Hill played a central role on a Nittany Lion defense ranked 10th in the nation in scoring defense.  Astorino finished second on the team in tackles with 77, while Hill tallied 8.0 hits for a loss in 2011.

Bowl Preview Interview - Tom Bradley

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com caught up with a number of Nittany Lions on TicketCity Bowl Media Day.  Stay tuned throughout the week for several interviews leading up to Penn State's trip to Dallas for the TicketCity Bowl against Houston.

First up is sophomore tailback Silas Redd and senior running back Joe Suhey.  Redd heads into the bowl game with 1,188 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.  The versatile Suhey averaged more than nine yards per completion in 2011.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following finals week, the Nittany Lion men's hoops team (7-5) played arguably its best half of basketball in the second period of Sunday's 72-43 rout of Mount St. Mary's.

Penn State shot 67 percent from the field in the second half of Sunday's win over The Mount.  The Nittany Lions will look to make it two victories in a row when they take on Cornell (4-5) in the final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m.).

Cornell enters Wednesday's game having won two of its last three contests.  The Big Red suffered a narrow 64-60 setback at Illinois on Monday night.

GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Brian Daly leading up to Wednesday's non-conference finale against Cornell.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Fred Chmiel and senior guard Zhaque Gray to learn the finer points of the differences between man-to-man and zone defenses.  Take a look.

The Lady Lions travel to Bucknell on Wednesday night for their final non-conference game of the season.  Penn State opens Big Ten play in the BJC on Dec. 30 against Nebraska at 7 p.m.

Sights and Sounds of TicketCity Bowl Media Day

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions will practice inside Holuba Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading home for the Holidays.  The team is scheduled to reconvene in Dallas on Dec. 26 in preparation for the TicketCity Bowl against Houston on Jan. 2 at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.

GoPSUsports.com talked with interim head coach Tom Bradley leading up to the Jan. 2 bowl game for his thoughts on practice, Houston and more.

Tom Bradley Quotes // Player Quotes // Photo Gallery

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion football team welcomed the media for TicketCity Bowl Media Day at Holuba Hall on Monday.

Several players addressed the assembled media members before interim head coach Tom Bradley held a pre-bowl press conference.  From there, Coach Bradley invited the media to watch the entire duration of Monday's practice.

Back to Work After Finals
The Nittany Lions wrapped up final exams on Friday.  On the same day, they returned to the practice field to ramp up preparations for the Jan. 2 TicketCity Bowl in Dallas.  The Lions practiced Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and they will do so once again on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The team will then head home for Holidays from Wednesday (Dec. 21) through Dec. 26.  Each team member must report to Dallas by 7 p.m. on the 26th.  The players will all depart from airports close to their hometowns.

Home For the Holidays
Penn State senior offensive tackle Quinn Barham joked that he has almost forgotten what it is like to be home for the holidays.  The fifth-year senior captain has not been home to celebrate Christmas with his family since he was a senior in high school in 2006.

Normally, Penn State practices at the bowl site for two weeks prior to the postseason game.  This year, Coach Bradley said that with potentially uncertain weather in Dallas, the team opted to practice in Holuba Hall until Dec. 21 before allowing the team to head home.

Barham, like every other member on the team GoPSUsports.com talked to, is thrilled to have the opportunity to spend time at home with family members before meeting in Dallas on Dec. 26.

The Durham, N.C., native said among many holiday traditions in the Barham household is a collection of Nutcracker figurines his grandmother gave to him growing up.  From a football player to a police officer, Barham said that his vast figurine collection was big part of his holiday display.

High Intensity Level
Coach Bradley said during his one-on-one interview with GoPSUsports.com (Stay tuned for video) that practice has been at a very high level since the end of finals week.  Monday's session was living proof of that.  Penn State practiced in full pads for a little more than 90 minutes.

After individual work, the team scrimmaged with full contact for a good portion of practice.  The scrimmaging included a session with the first team offense going head-to-head with the first team defense.  The team then participated in conditioning sprints before going back on the field for more live scrimmage work.  It was a high energy and intense practice.

McGloin Addresses Confrontation
Following Saturday's incident, Nittany Lion quarterback Matt McGloin took full responsibility for his actions on Monday when he met with the media.

"As a quarterback for this university, I should be held to a higher standard," McGloin said. "It should not have happened...I'm going to take responsibility for it. It was immature. It was ill-timed."

McGloin has not been medically cleared to practice and will continue to be evaluated.  Coach Bradley said that McGloin's status for the bowl game is uncertain.

Quarterbacks in Practice
With McGloin unable to practice, sophomore signal-caller Rob Bolden took snaps with the first team offense on Monday.  Bolden started the first seven games of the season while splitting time with McGloin.  Junior walk-on quarterback Shane McGregor also split snaps with Bolden under center at Monday's practice.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Paul Jones is playing the part of Houston QB Case Keenum on the scout team.  Wearing a white No. 7 jersey, Jones has the task of going through the Houston offensive schemes when facing off against the Nittany Lion first and second team defenses on the practice field.  The task is easier said than done with Jones taking snaps with the scout team offense against the likes of All-American Devon Still, Jordan Hill, Sean Stanley and Jack Crawford across the defensive line.

Tidbits
- Redshirt freshman Alex Kenney has shifted from cornerback to wide receiver for the bowl game.  The talented prospect from State College has seen action in two games this season.

- After getting banged up in practice on Sunday, senior safety Nick Sukay was held out of action on Monday for precautionary reasons.

- The Nittany Lions will begin bowl practice in Dallas at Bishop Lynch High School on Dec. 27.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Growing up in Celina, Texas, football was way of life for Penn State senior cornerback D'Anton Lynn.

A versatile athlete for Celina High School, Lynn played defensive back, linebacker, quarterback, running back and wide receiver for coach Butch Ford and the Bobcats.  Lynn was instrumental in helping Celina win the 2007 Texas Class 3A Division 2 state championship.  The Bobcats also finished state runners-up with a 15-1 record in 2006.

Lynn's hometown has a population of 5,000 people.  Bobcat Stadium, the home of Celina football, seats nearly 3,000 people, alone.

Four years after graduating from high school, Lynn will return to his home state for the Jan. 2 TicketCity Bowl clash against Houston.

Celina is just 40 miles north of the Dallas area, and Lynn will get the rare opportunity to play in front of several friends and family members in his final game as a Penn State player.

The Texas product said that he has received more ticket requests from family and friends than he can handle, so he is directing those looking for tickets to GoPSUsports.com to buy them online.  Lynn is thrilled to have the opportunity to play in the Cotton Bowl Stadium in his final game.

The cornerback has been instrumental on the Penn State defense for the past three seasons.  Lynn is one of the hardest working athletes on the field every time he suits up.  A sure tackler, Lynn has quietly gone about his business every Saturday.

Playing in Texas is a reward for a player who brought a great work ethic, attitude and football IQ to the Nittany Lion defense throughout his career.  GoPSUsports.com talked with Lynn about what it will mean to suit up one final time in Penn State blue and white in the Lone Star State.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at Penn State's 72-43 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between Penn State (6-5) and Mount St. Mary's (1-8).  The Nittany Lions are looking to snap a three-game slide against The Mount.  Penn State has one more non-conference game (Wed. vs. Cornell) before Big Ten play begins at Michigan on Dec. 29.

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Glover, G - Marshall, F - Oliver, F - Travis

First Half:

15:18 - Penn State 10, Mount St. Mary's 7

The Nittany Lions got off to a bit of a slow start.  Coach Chambers burned a timeout to motivate the team after nearly three scoreless minutes from the Lions.  The team answered with 3-pointers from Billy Oliver and Cammeron Woodyard.  Tim Frazier added two free throws and the Lions capped off an 8-0 scoring spurt before a 3-pointer from Chad Holley.

11:51 - Penn State 17, Mount St. Mary's 9

Woodyard has already provided a nice spark off the bench of the Nittany Lions with five points and a rebound.  The senior forward is going to play a big role in how successful the Lions are in the Big Ten season.  With good size and the ability to knock down 3-pointers, Woodyard can be a tough matchup.  Penn State is currently on a 7-0 scoring spurt.

5:48 - Penn State 21, Mount St. Mary's 17

After getting off to a solid start shooting the basketball, the Lions are just 2 for their last 10 from the field.  The Mount has scored six of the game's last eight points and pulled to within four (21-17).  A pair of offensive rebounds accounted for two of the three baskets.  The Lions scored 17 of their 21 points in a five-minute span, but have been quiet since.  Nonetheless, Penn State leads on the scoreboard.

0:00 - Penn State 28, Mount St. Mary's 25

The Nittany Lions take a three-point lead into the break after an up-and-down first half.  Penn State played very well for a five-minute span, scoring 17 points.  That period contributed to a 5-for-10 shooting start to the game.  After that, Penn State finished the half just 4-for-16 from the field.  Woodyard led the way with seven points and three rebounds, while Frazier and Oliver added six tallies apiece.  The Mount shot just 37 percent from the field.  Penn State needs to find some rhythm on the offensive end of the floor.  The defensive effort was good in the first half, but the Lions need to do a better job on offense after scoring just nine points in the final 12:40.

Second Half:

15:57 - Penn State 37, Mount St. Mary's 25
Needing a boost, the Lions came out of the locker room red-hot from the floor.  Oliver buried a left wing 3-pointer before Sasa Borovnjak powered to the basket and Frazier converted a transition layup after a nice pass from Matt Glover.  Just 91 seconds into the half, the three-point cushion grew to double digits.  The lead grew to 12 on a second Borovnjak bucket.  Frazier is just 2-for-9 from the field, but the junior point guard has impacted the game in a variety of ways.

11:36 - Penn State 48, Mount St. Mary's 34

After a slow end to the first half, the Nittany Lions have done a superb job turning things around on the offensive end of the floor.  Penn State is 8-for-10 from the field in the second half.  Frazier put the Lions up 48-34 with a fall-away jumper along the baseline, which resulted in an old-fashioned 3-point play.  When the Lions are clicking on offense, they seem to find extra energy on the defensive end of the floor.  Frazier and Borovnjak are both in double figures for the Nittany Lions.

7:45 - Penn State 54, Mount St. Mary's 34

0:00 - Penn State 72, Mount St. Mary's 43

Final Thoughts:

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

First Half:

0:00 - Penn State 57, Wagner 19

Second Half:

11:54 - Penn State 79, Wagner 31
The Lady Lions picked up right where they left off in the early minutes of the second half.  Penn State went on a 15-4 run in the opening 4:09.  For the game, the Lady Lions were on a cumulative 72-16 scoring spurt after trailing 7-2 early.  The Lions led by as much as 51 in the first few minutes of the second half.  Lucas now has 23 points for the game, marking her sixth 20-point effort of the season.

7:50 - Penn State 84, Wagner 35

The number that again stands out on the box score is the number of turnovers Penn State has forced.  Granted Wagner is overmatched in terms of talent, but the Lions have again played well defensively.  Defense has been a big point of emphasis throughout the season, and the numbers show it.  Penn State has forced 20 turnovers today and limited the Seahawks to 21 percent shooting.

0:00 - Penn State 103, Wagner 42

The Lady Lions cruised to a dominant 103-42 victory in the final non-conference home game of the season.  Collectively, it was a complete team effort in a route of Wagner.  The Lions trailed by five early, and from there the floodgates opened.  After leading by 38 points at the break, Penn State kept its foot on the accelerator throughout the second half.  Bentley (23) and Lucas (23) led the way in scoring.  Four Lions finished in double figures Penn State turned in another strong defensive effort, limiting Wagner to 20 percent shooting, and the Lions forced 24 turnovers.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following finals week, the Nittany Lion men's hoops team (6-5) returns to the floor on Sunday afternoon for a 4 p.m. tip against Mount St. Mary's (1-8).

The Nittany Lions enter the game looking to snap a three-game slide.  Nonetheless, Penn State's three losses came by a combined 13 points.  The Lions have two games remaining before Big Ten play begins at Michigan on Dec. 29.

The Mount's 1-8 mark is not indicative of how their season has gone.  Mount St. Mary's has lost seven straight games, but its last five games have been decided by 11 or fewer points.  The list includes a narrow three-point setback at Maryland on Dec. 7.

GoPSUsports.com talked with associate head coach Eugene Burroughs leading up to Sunday's tipoff against The Mount.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com radio and stream personality Brian Tripp caught up with sophomores Ariel Edwards and Talia East and freshman Tori Waldner on the impact they have played this season.  The Lady Lions return home on Sunday against Wagner at 1 p.m.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It is only fitting that the seven members of the Nittany Lion football squad set to walk across the stage in the Bryce Jordan Center to receive their Penn State diploma do so on a Saturday.

In all, 24 Penn State student-athletes are scheduled to graduate on Saturday.  On the football squad, All-American Devon Still (crime, law and justice), tailback Stephfon Green (crime, law and justice), defensive end Pete Massaro (finance), linebacker Michael Mauti (crime, law and justice), wide receiver Derek Moye (parks, recreation and tourism management), kick snapper Jon Rohrbaugh (MIS) and Chima Okoli (media studies), who is earning his second undergraduate degree, are scheduled to earn their diplomas this weekend.

GoPSUsports.com caught up with Okoli and Still prior to walking across the stage on what it means to earn a Penn State degree while playing football.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Standout senior defensive tackle Devon Still earned his 10th first team All-American honor on Thursday.

It has truly been an incredible journey for the Wilmington, Del., native in 2011.  From media day on Aug. 16 to Thursday's 10th All-America announcement, GoPSUsports.com has talked to Still throughout the 2011 season.  Take a look at several sound bites from the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year during his remarkable senior season, including comments on Thursday.

By Scott Marino, Senior Co-Captain

This week the Penn State swim team is working on a balancing act.  It's final exam week and there are a lot of final projects, papers, and exams that need to be completed before the end of the semester this Friday.  It is obviously an extremely important time for everyone to be at their best in the classroom.  Our team has set lofty goals academically and we are hoping to raise the team GPA even higher. In order to do so, everyone on the team has to put forth their best effort.  Everyone has to be performing well in the classroom while also excelling in the pool, which is a huge challenge. 

One of the biggest challenges of participating in college athletics is being able to manage your time.  With double practices, weights, and dryland workouts, it can be difficult to make sure you are making every class and getting all your work done.  Another obstacle is making up work when the team leaves campus for competition.  It's crucial to make up whatever is missed while we are away.  Something we encourage each other on the team to do is get a head of work while it is possible and also to communicate with teachers about the competition schedule.  By doing so, you can stay on top of the busy work load and seek out a professor's help if need be. 

During this finals week, it is important we are still getting work done in the pool too.  The team has put in a ton of great work so far this semester and achieved success at the recent Ohio State Invitational.  As we roll into Christmas training and our trip to Naples, Florida it is essential we are still giving our all in the pool.  There is no time to be simply satisfied, but it is also crucial that we are making sure that our class work and exams are the highest priority.  That makes this week a true balancing act.

This semester has surely been a busy one.  The team has constantly been at work and we are all looking forward to celebrating the holidays with family and friends at home.  We are also looking forward to a break from classwork and being able to train in the warmth of Florida, as State College seems has gotten dramatically colder in the last couple weeks.  With great opportunities ahead, the team is looking to create some positive momentum in the coming weeks as we roll into the second semester of the year.

Penn State Proud,

Scott Marino

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Acting Athletic Director Dave Joyner joined GoPSUsports.com this week for a third interview since he stepped into his current role.  Joyner addressed the coaching search, academic success by Penn State student-athletes and more.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Lady Lion basketball team stands 8-2 as the squad works through final exams week before the final two non-conference games of the season.

Penn State has lost two games by a combined 13 points, both of which away from the Bryce Jordan Center.  While the team is happy to be in the position it is, the group realizes that there is a long way to go in order to get to where it wants to be.

"I don't think we are playing near our potential yet," assistant coach Fred Chmiel said.  "That is probably a good thing.  We haven't peaked yet.  I am hoping that comes in the next month and a half.  We've had bright spots, but I don't think we have put everything together."

Chmiel said that the 103-84 victory over then 13th-ranked North Carolina was the closest thing to playing at the level the team expects to be at.  Indeed, Penn State has put itself in a very good position, but the Lions are looking for more.

"There is definitely huge room for growth, and at 8-2 that is saying a lot," Chmiel said.  "We are excited about where we are going to be once the Big Ten starts.  There is a lot of work to do between now and then."

What is the team working on to get to that point?

"Rebounding is one area," Chmiel said.  "Getting our shooting percentage up is another.  I don't think it was this low last year...Our transition game isn't what it used to be, and again the defensive aspect of things has kind of hurt that."

Defensively, Penn State has made significant strides in creating stops this season.  However, the Lady Lions also want to get out in the open floor and use their speed and athleticism to score in transition.  Striking a balance between playing good defense and rebounding and a strong transition game can be a challenge.

"Now that we are playing a little better defense, there is a lot more perimeter shots," Chmiel said.  "We have been playing a lot of zone these past few games, with the exception of Sunday.  With a lot of perimeter shots, we are having trouble getting those long rebounds."

With the aforementioned long rebounds come opportunities to turn and get up the floor in transition.  It is fine line between playing good defense for 30 seconds and still having the energy to get down the floor for fastbreak points.  Chmiel said Penn State is working to do both so the Lions can speed up the tempo.

It has been documented throughout the offseason and first two months of play that the team took it to heart last season when it could not get the defensive stops it needed to be successful in the postseason.

"We took it really personally last year that we were not a good defensive team," sophomore guard Maggie Lucas said.  "We don't like having that on our record.  And our coaches definitely don't like being a poor defensive team.  Last year it was more about, we will out-score our opponents.  We are focusing more on our defense because you can have off shooting nights and we don't want that to be the reason why we lost."

One of the key figures in a resurgence on the defensive end of the floor has been the emergence of the versatile sophomore forward Ariel Edwards.  Edwards, who is averaging 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds, has played a big role for the Lions on the defensive end of the floor in the absence of forward Mia Nickson.

"It has a lot to do with our experience," Edwards said.  "You know where you are supposed to be (on defense).  It is easier to play defense because you know exactly what you are supposed to do."

Like any second-year player, the game has slowed down for Edwards this winter.

"Freshman year is tough because everything is moving so fast, but as you play more and mature, you learn things and learn how to play," said Edwards.

Defense will play a significant role in the big picture for where the Nittany Lions want to be come March, and the players know that.

"I feel like we haven't hit our peak yet, which is good," Edwards said.  "Nobody wants to be at their peak now.  We haven't hit the Big Ten yet.  We are really excited and we are going to try to keep getting better every day."


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A Division I collegiate wrestling squad can be compared to the liking of a well-oiled machine.

In order to function properly and produce as efficiently as possible, each must rely on the many parts and objects involved to work together as one.

For a wrestling team, this goes beyond the inclusion of student-athletes, trainers and assistive staff, and extends to the need for a cohesive and experienced coaching staff. At the start of this season, the Nittany Lions added two more veteran pieces to their administrative staff that have been a huge help thus far.

The names Aaron Anspach and Adam Lynch have been printed on the Penn State wrestling roster before, but this year they will not be listed as attached athletes. Instead, both veterans have traded in their singlets for Nittany Lion coaching positions.

Anspach joined Cael and Cody Sanderson and Casey Cunningham as an assistant coach while Lynch has taken on the role of the Director of Operations for the 2011-'12 season. And, according to their defending national champions, they both seem to be fitting into their new positions pretty well.

"They've been doing a great job," said redshirt junior Quentin Wright. "They've been around the program for so long and I know that everybody on the team, we just have such a high regard for Adam Lynch and Coach Anspach that it's really a help to us to have them there. We have a really good friendship built in with them and they're going to help us reach our goals at the end of the year."

A Penn State graduate and former All-American heavyweight, Anspach has been around the highly recognized program for more than seven years now. In the three years that followed his 2007 senior season, in which he garnered a national runner-up worthy 22-4 record, Anspach held the positions of Director of Operations, Assistant Coach and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Coach.

Head coach Cael Sanderson said that Anspach's determination and need to succeed is one thing that will help everyone involved this season.

"Anspach has been around the program for a long time and he's just a workhorse," said Sanderson. "He just really loves Penn State."

Anspach's continued experience with the program is something that he says will especially assist him in lending a hand to this year's squad.

"I'm just exciting to be able to give back to a group of guys that are in the same place that I was a few years ago," said Anspach. "Now I get to see a bunch of talent and bunch of athletes go through a similar process that I did and I'm really ready to be a part of it."

With a number of years of experience wrestling at the 285 spot, Anspach said that he particularly helps out the athletes on this year's roster who wrestle at heavyweight. For guys like redshirt junior Cameron Wade, having coach Anspach around is not only beneficial but also comfortable.

"Me and Aaron have always been really close and he's always helped me throughout my college career," said Wade. "So to have him as an official coach again, because he was when I was a red-shirt freshman, it's just awesome."

For Lynch, the situation is very similar yet different.

As the Director of Operations, Lynch said that he is not permitted to practice with the team or have any coaching responsibilities, but instead works in a more administrative role handling issues involving funds, admissions, student housing and things of the like.

Lynch graduated in 2010 and came back as a fifth-year senior this past season to stick around the Penn State program. His decision to stay worked in his favor, as he was able to land a job in the only place he wanted to be.

"I think it's going well," said Lynch. "I really like it and I pretty much have a job doing something I love and a lot of people don't get that opportunity so I'm very thankful that I got this opportunity and I'm enjoying it."

As a recent Nittany Lion graduate, Lynch has actually wrestled with many of the grapplers who appear on the starting line-up this season. He said that he familiarity and history with the team makes his job that much more exciting.

"I definitely still have a lot of guys on the team that are good friends of mine and I'm pumped to be able to see them succeed this year and keep wrestling and winning some matches and hopefully win nationals again."

The pair of new leaders brings experience, talent and knowledge of the program that they now work with, and both are happy to be in State College. Sanderson said that their passion and dedication to the same group of young men that he cares so much about really contributes in more ways than one.

"You've got to have the right staff, the right culture and everybody's got to be on board together and have the same vision and belief in each other," said Sanderson. "That's why we're really happy about the staff that we were able to put together."

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After just four dual meets this season, Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson said that his wrestlers are doing more than just competing at a high level.

They're getting better.

"I think we're seeing improvement and that's kind of the name of the game," said Sanderson. "That's what we like to see."

The Nittany Lions cruised to a 34-6 dual win over the Mountaineers on Sunday afternoon in front of a crowd of more than 6,000 in Rec Hall. Penn State topped West Virginia in eight of the 10 individual bouts, scoring one decision, one technical fall, one pin and five major decisions.

Throughout the lineup, the Lions that took their bouts dominated by a wide margin to outscore their opponents 104-31. Penn State wrestlers took further control by winning the riding time point in six of the eight bouts that they took. Three of these Nittany Lions garnered more than four minutes of riding time in their perspective match-ups.

Sanderson said that his athletes have been working to have that edge over their competition week in and week out during practices and training sessions.

"A lot of that is just the attitude that we take or the individuals take when they're in those positions because the guys that are good wrestlers they can wrestle wherever," said Sanderson. "They can wrestle on the mat or on their feet and it's just a matter of putting a little more emphasis into it."

One of the notable spots in the dual was junior Derek Reber's major over West Virginia's freshman Jesse Schiffbauer. Reber posted a 12-4 win over Schiffbauer and delivered four takedowns in the bout for his first dual win of the season.

"It feels good getting a win here at home finally," said Reber. "I just love the atmosphere."

The junior is making his debut as a member of the starting lineup for Penn State this season, and has been suffering a high-ankle sprain since the Nov. 20 dual against Minnesota.

"It's improving a lot," Reber said of his ankle. "I feel a lot better compared to two weeks ago."

Sanderson was also impressed at how his 133-pounder took to the mats in his first dual victory of the year.

"I thought he wrestled very well," said Sanderson. "His shots, I mean he has great shots but he finished them well and got several takedowns and did a nice job on top and he just wrestled a solid match."

The Nittany Lions' head coach said that overall he is more and more satisfied with his younger wrestlers who have opened up the matches for the team for the majority of this season. Sanderson said that Reber's win is one that he thinks that the whole team can build on.

"That's a big deal especially early in a dual like that to come out and set the tone for the rest of the match but a real solid performance and just a place to really plant your feet and just keep moving forward and something that he can really take this match and continue to build off of it," said Sanderson. "That's what we need."

Junior Quentin Wright also had a big day under the lights of Rec Hall as he spent less than two minutes on the mat at the 184 spot by pinning West Virginia's Matt Ryan.

After a tough dual loss the match before to Lehigh's Robert Hamlin, Wright said that like Sanderson he has also noticed the progressive improvement in his and his teammates' performances.

"It's a process and it's a long season and every day is just improving because once you find what works and what you need to do to get through those tough matches and beat those good guys then you're there," said Wright. "Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to figure out."

Wright said that he knows the feeling that his less experienced teammates are feeling as they get used to the demands of a tough schedule, but the veteran is convinced that they will only continue to get better.

"They're just getting more confident out there," said Wright. "They're getting more comfortable and as you get more matches under your belt things are starting to work for them. You're also going to see a big difference from now until the end of the year because they're going to keep on improving."

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. For much of Sunday's first half the Penn State Lady Lions looked like they were going to be in a tighter game than planned vs. University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).

Fortunately, no one told the team that.

Despite only having a 30-26 lead over a 2-5 UMES team with 3:39 to go in the first half Penn State was able to pull away and eventually take a 10-point half time lead.  They continued to roll in the second half and eventually ended the day with a 76-51 win.

The Lady Lions were led by another strong showing from Maggie Lucas, who finished with 20 points, going along with forward Nikki Greene going 6-6 from the field to finish with 13 points on the day.

Coach Washington seemed very happy after the game with Greene's performance, which helped the team pull away early in the second half.

"She's becoming more confident in herself. She's put the work in at practice," said head coach Washington.  "I think the game is slowing down for her so she is able to get the ball and do the things in the game that she is doing in practice."

"I thought our posts played well," Washington added.  But also did say she was hoping the Lions size could have been more of a factor all game long.

Greene added how teams playing the Lions differently have also had an impact on her success.

"Teams are starting to play us differently," Greene said.  "They're starting to get on the guards and the posts are open, so that's what has changed in the past five games."

While the Lions were happy they were able to pull away and get the win, there were still areas the team needs to work on, mainly making smart decisions and defense.

"I didn't think we played particularly smart. I didn't think we had enough effort going out for the ball," said coach Washington.  "We just have to play smarter defensively. We lost some of our fundamentals today."

While there were some struggles that Washington saw, there were improvements that she and the team saw in the second half, where they outscored UMES 36-21.

"It's all about their effort," said Washington on why the team makes runs in the second half of games. "The past two games they have come out the second half and have played smarter on defense and have just done a better job at being in tune with what we have to do as a team."

Washington also added that sometimes she think it can just take the team a while to get going and figure out what they need to do.

Going forward, with a week off between games, the Lions are looking to continue to play and get smarter on both ends of the floor.  As well as continue to improve on what is quickly becoming a more and more impressive defense.

With another win in the books the Lady Lions are continuing to learn and grow as the season rolls on.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was a season marked by highs for the 2011 Penn State women's soccer team.

The Nittany Lions dominated the Big Ten with an impressive 10-1-0 record during the regular season on their way to winning an unprecedented 14th-consecutive Big Ten Championship.  Penn State then proceeded to make a solid run in the NCAA tournament before falling to top-seeded Wake Forest (17-3-4) in the round of 16, finishing the season at 21-5-0.

Though the final result was less than ideal, head coach Erica Walsh called the season a success because of the steps the team made toward the ultimate goal of winning a national championship.  The players matured after a rough start and successfully broke through the second round barrier in the NCAA tournament that had plagued the Nittany Lions over the past couple of seasons.

"The reality is, the sweet 16 is great, but that's not our goal," said Walsh.  "I think we're proud of the steps we made this year, but it was just a stepping stone."

Penn State began its journey with a difficult test against then ranked No. 2 Stanford, a game in which the Cardinal imposed their will early on and dominated the youthful Lions, 4-0.  Stanford exploited the players' inexperience and taught them a valuable lesson - they needed to come together as a team and develop an identity if they wanted to compete on the national level.

"I think we went into that game not really knowing exactly the way we were going to play and it showed," reflected coach Walsh.  "You can't have indecision facing Stanford."

The loss against Stanford in the first game of the season marked a turning point for the Nittany Lions.  The players' determination to prove that they could compete with the best in the country accompanied by a relentless work ethic fostered by their coaches epitomized the team's attitude both in practice and on the field.

Penn State continued it's challenging pre-Big Ten schedule routing previously ranked No. 17 West Virginia, 5-0, followed by downing seventh-ranked Virginia, 3-2.  Sophomore forward Maya Hayes established herself as an elite attacker, scoring four goals between the two games with an assist against the Cavaliers, escorted by her cheerful fellow sophomore forward Taylor Schram who assisted three of her scores.

The grueling matches against out of conference opponents proved to be crucial in preparing the Nittany Lions for Big Ten play and showing the players and coaches how they compare to the top teams in the nation.

"It keeps you grounded," commented coach Walsh on the tough out of conference schedule.  "We want to walk out of September feeling a) ready to tackle the Big Ten season and b) realizing exactly where we stand among the country's best."

The decision to brave a tumultuous out of conference itinerary proved to be the right call.  Penn State, after dropping the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, 1-0, flew through the remaining conference schedule winning ten straight games and finishing the season with a flawless 9-0-0 record on their home turf.  Led by an unwavering senior class dedicated to defining their legacy and carrying on the Nittany Lion tradition, the team took home its record breaking 14th-straight Big Ten title.

"That's one thing that our seniors really instilled in our team is this is a privilege every day to play for this program and it's a privilege to play at Jeffrey in front of those fans," said Walsh.

Although the Nittany Lions entered the conference tournament the favorite to win the championship, they fell, 2-1, in overtime against Illinois in the finals.  Nevertheless, the players took yet another negative and turned it into a reason to up their level, to train even harder.

The week of practice following the Big Ten tournament was the best the team had all year.  Once again, the seniors came forward and inspired their teammates, daring them to step up to the challenge. 

"I just think it was a really special formula in this senior class," said Walsh.  "To me, championship teams are built out of great players stepping up and achieving greatness, but you've got your nucleus and your core that drives you every day and our senior class was our nucleus and our core."

Heading into the NCAA Tournament, the players were confident and their desire was as strong as ever.  Penn State dominated a proven Army defense in the first round, 1-0, out-shooting the Black Knights, 29-3.  They continued the momentum into the second round, cruising past Marquette, 4-1, and securing their spot in the final 16 at top-seeded Wake Forest.

By the time Penn State reached the third round, injuries had taken their toll.  Taylor Schram was unavailable for the game against the Demon Deacons and key starters junior midfielder Maddy Evans and freshman midfielder Emily Hurd were forced to play hurt.  After going up 1-0 early, the Nittany Lions fell into a 4-1-deficit midway through the second half.  Despite the score, the players refused to give in, pouring on shot after shot only to come up short in the end, 4-2, after a goal by Maya Hayes in the 83rd minute, her second of the game.

As coach Walsh reflected on the tournament and the season in general, she saw promise.  Her team was merely a few steps away from their true goal, a national championship, and with the right mindset, that goal was attainable.

"What I hope that the 2011 season accomplished for our team is to get them to understand that it's achievable and that if they believe it, if they truly believe it in their heart, that they can achieve it," said Walsh.

Looking ahead to the 2012 season, the Nittany Lions are losing a top-of-the-line senior class that embodied the team's confidence and energetic personality.  Each senior contributed to the team as a whole in her own way both on and off the field.  Their leadership was invaluable and replacing them will be no easy task.  Coach Walsh was quick to note junior defender Lexi Marton as a candidate to step into the leadership role.

"She's got all the pieces to be a great leader," said Walsh.

On the other side, Penn State returns the vast majority of its players including its feature trio on offense, Hayes, Schram, and junior midfielder Christine Nairn.  Hayes is coming off of a phenomenal season where she put up record-setting and league-leading numbers in goals (31) and points (70).

Coach Walsh has high hopes for next season and is not afraid to set a goal her players will have to strive to achieve, seeking a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.  After going undefeated on Jeffrey Field this season, playing at home would prove to be a decisive advantage.

"My biggest goal for the 2012 team is to be a one seed going into that NCAA Tournament," said Walsh.  "Let's play at home on Jeffrey Field in front of our home fans.  I'll take anyone on any day under any conditions on Jeffrey Field."

Her message to the players going into the offseason was simple: If they want to win the grand prize, then they must be willing to work for it.

"Their expectations for the fall should be set on their desire to improve in the offseason.  Everybody wants to win the big one, but do you want to put the work in?"

The Nittany Lions remain a young team and their bench players have proven themselves time and time again.  With this year's experience comes a veteran squad going into next season.  The stage is set and the future looks promising.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head into the media room for comments from head coach Cael Sanderson, Dylan Alton and Derek Reber following Sunday's 34-6 victory against West Virginia.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at Penn State's 34-6 victory over West Virginia on Sunday afternoon in Rec Hall.

Welcome to Rec Hall for live updates for the defending national champion Nittany Lion wrestling team.

125: #15 Nico Megaludis Ousts Young
Freshman Nico Megaludis tallied a first period takedown en route to a 2-1 lead after one period against West Virginia's Shane Young.  Megaludis extended his lead to 3-1 after an early escape in the second.  He then battled to a second takedown near the edge of the mat for a 5-1 lead after two periods.  The Nittany Lion freshman added two stalling points and riding time to set the final score at 7-2 in the opening bout of the afternoon.

133: Derek Reber Majors Schiffbauer
Junior Derek Reber bounced back from a 10-7 setback at Lehigh with a solid outing against West Virginia's Jesse Schiffbauer.  Reber took control in the first period with a takedown and 2:08 in riding time.  Reber did a nice job extending his lead to 7-2 following the second period.  He managed two key escapes and a late takedown to build a comfortable margin.  From there, Reber wore down Schiffbauer in the third with two more takedowns and a total of 3:12 of riding time for a 12-4 major decision victory.  Reber's match set the team score at 7-0, Nittany Lions.

141: #19 Nathan Pennesi Edges Bryan Pearsall

149: #1 Frank Molinaro Dominates Scheffel

157: #10 Dylan Alton Tallies Major Decision Against Prezzia

165: #1 David Taylor Tallies Tech Fall

Top-ranked David Taylor wasted little time taking control of his bout against West Virginia senior Kyle Eason.  The Lion sophomore tallied four takedowns and four near-fall points in the first period alone.  Leading 12-3 after one, Taylor put together four more takedowns in the second period before tallying a technical fall victory at the 4:16.  At the time, Taylor was leading 22-7.  The five-point tech fall win handed the Lions a 20-3 on the scoreboard.

174: #2 Ed Ruth Majors Bryson

Sophomore Ed Ruth remained perfect on the season with a dominant 18-6 victory over Lance Bryson.  Ruth managed three first period takedowns and 2:02 of riding time.  From there, Ruth added five more takedowns for a match total of eight takedowns.  Ruth also managed to become the third Nittany Lion of the dual to tally more than 4:00 of riding time on his way to the major decision.  Ruth's victory put the Lions up 24-3 on the scoreboard.

184: #5 Quentin Wright Pins #17 Matt Ryan

197: Mancuso Defeats Justin Ortega
After a scoreless first period against WVU's Mac Mancuso, Justin Ortega got on the board first with an escape in the second.  Mancuso moved in for a takedown, but a second escape from Ortega sent the match into the final frame knotted at 2-2.  Mancuso scored an early escape point.  That would be all that Mancuso would need for a slim one-point decision.

285: #8 Cameron Wade Knocks off Williamson

Final Thoughts
The Nittany Lions capped off a very solid weekend of wrestling with a dominant 34-6 victory over West Virginia in front of 6,078 fans at Rec Hall on Sunday afternoon.  Penn State tallied five majors, one tech fall and one pin en route to winning eight of the 10 bouts.  Reber's major decision and Wright's pin were the two big bouts of the afternoon for the Lions.  Both wrestlers needed a victory on Sunday, and they did it in commanding fashion.  Head coach Cael Sanderson said in the media room following the victory that he has been pleased with the way Penn State is translating what the team is working on at practice onto the mat.  The Lions will break for final exams before traveling to Lock Haven on Sunday.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team (6-4) heads on the road Saturday night for an intra-state matchup against Duquesne (5-4) at Consol Energy Center.

The Nittany Lions take on the Dukes in their third game in eight days.  GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Keith Urgo leading up to Saturday's contest at Duquesne.

Hey guys,

First off I hope everybody had a fantastic thanksgiving! I know I did! It was

awesome to just relax and have some down time. It was much needed.  We are back

on a regular schedule now and had a very productive week getting back into the

gym from break and are really focusing on perfecting each routine. We are just

getting ready for our Blue and White Showcase that is coming up on Friday

December 9 at Rec hall! We would love for everyone to come out and support us.

It's going to be a lot of fun! As for school, we have finals coming up next

week so it's getting time to buckle down and study hard. I can't believe how

fast this semester has gone and how soon we will be on the competition floor

competing, I am so excited! It is going to be an awesome year!

Sharaya Musser

Hello family, friends, and fans, it's Alex Witt! I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and hopefully had a nice break from school or work. I know I had a very nice Thanksgiving break and got to spend it with my family and friends back in Florida. Both school and gymnastics are really starting to pick up with finals and season coming up so it was nice to just relax for a few days and get ready to come back and finish the semester strong. As a team, we are looking really sharp and are anxiously awaiting the start of the season. On the Saturday before we left for break, we had a Thanksgiving intrasquad and we looked great. It was apparent that there was a significant improvement from the last intrasquad in our confidence level and attention to detail. But, we all have little things that we can work on these next two weeks before our Blue and White Showcase we are having on December 9th in Rec Hall. The Showcase is going to be like an intrasquad but with the team split up into two groups the blue group and the white group. We will be pairing up with the men's team too which will be cool because it's the first time we have ever done that. So hopefully some of you guys can make it out to that, I know it is going to be a show you're not going to want to miss! That is all for now, We Are...

DALLAS, Texas - Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley and Acting Director of Athletics Dave Joyner and two staff members boarded a Cessna Citation V, a seven-seat jet, shortly after 12:30 p.m. at the University Park Airport for a quick trip Dallas, the site of Penn State's 44th bowl game, on Thursday afternoon for the first official event of the TicketCity Bowl.

TicketCity Bowl festivities officially kicked off at Omni Dallas Hotel on Thursday evening with the Team Announcement event held at The Owners Club restaurant.

Bradley and Joyner both addressed the media and spoke before an invitation-only crowd in excess of 50 people.  Houston athletic director Mack Rhoades and assistant head coach Tony Levine also spoke at the event on behalf of the 20th-ranked Cougars.  Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin was scheduled to be at the event, but the team banquet was held Thursday in Houston.

Rhoades said that Houston is thrilled and honored to face off against a 9-3 Penn State team in a January bowl game.

Coach Bradley stepped to the microphone in front of the assembled crowd shortly after watching a highlight film of Houston's 12-1 season on a large projection screen TV.

"I was having a great time here eating pizza and then I watched the highlights of Houston and I just about threw up (laughter)," Coach Bradley joked.  "I am glad that I am not the defensive coordinator anymore."

The Nittany Lion defense will take on the 12-1 Houston Cougars on Jan. 2 at 11 a.m. CT.  Houston leads the nation in total offense at 599 yards per game.

"That is a great offense," Coach Bradley said.  "I have watched them on tape...I just want to know, what does that punter do all day? (laughter)  What does he average, like two punts per game?  What does he do all day?"

The City of Dallas has a large contingent of Penn Staters and alumni.  The TicketCity Bowl and the city welcomed both teams with open arms on Thursday evening.

"Dallas is very hospitable and very excited to have us here," Joyner said.  "This is a great venue and a great place to have this kickoff function.  I am very excited about being here.  We were here 40 years ago and we were here 65 years ago.  We were here since then when we played Baylor, but there are some anniversary years that are happening."

Joyner was a captain on the Nittany Lion football team that played Texas in the Cotton Bowl Stadium on New Year's Day in 1971.  He shared stories of his trip to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl when the Lions knocked off 10th-ranked Texas by a score of 30-6.

Joyner also mentioned a tie to Dallas' Cotton Bowl Stadium and the current team.  Senior running back Joe Suhey's grandfather, Steve Suhey, played for the Nittany Lions in the 1948 Cotton Bowl.  Suhey and the Lions battled SMU and Doak Walker to a 13-13 tie in the New Year's Day clash.

Penn State's illustrious football history includes three trips to the Cotton Bowl Stadium.  The Lions will return to the Lone Star State on Dec. 26 to begin TicketCity Bowl preparations in Dallas.  The Penn State players will be home for a few days before meeting in Dallas on the afternoon of the 26th.  Penn State will practice at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas leading up to the game.

"We have a lot of history in that Cotton Bowl and now that the TicketCity Bowl has the venue it is a very exciting time," Joyner said.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - More than 500 miles stand between Deja McClendon and her hometown of Louisville, Ky. This weekend, however, that number has been cut down to 75 miles as the No. 8 Penn State women's volleyball team travels to Lexington, Ky., where they will face No. 9 UCLA in the Regional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-foot-2 sophomore outside hitter is eager to be back in her home state, as friends and family will travel to the game to see her in action.

"It's just awesome to be back in Kentucky, where I can see some of my friends and family that I don't get to see very often," said McClendon. "Hopefully, I can play in front of my friends who can finally see what I've been doing my whole life and at Penn State for the past couple of years."

Now, in her second year at Penn State, McClendon has established herself as a vital asset to the women's volleyball team. After concluding the regular season, she was honored with All-Big Ten First Team accolades alongside her teammate Ariel Scott. Currently, McClendon leads the Nittany Lions in kills, averaging 3.55 per set.

This success would mean little to McClendon, if it was not for the support she receives from home.

"My dad always wants to be there at the games and my mom used to help me get to practice all the time," said McClendon. "All throughout high school she would take so much time out of her day just to help me do what I love. Because of them, I've ended up where I am right now. They're a huge part of why I'm here."

With such a close-knit family, it has not been easy for McClendon going to school and playing volleyball so far from home. As the oldest of three, she misses most, the feelings of sibling camaraderie with her brother and sister.

"I'm really close to my siblings," said McClendon. "I miss them so much because I don't get to see them very often. When I get a chance to play close to home and they all get to be there, it's so rewarding for me. I finally get the sense of playing for somebody."

The excitement can be heard in McClendon's voice, as she also considers the prospect of seeing her old high school friends in the stands. Although many of her friends attend the University of Kentucky, she believes their allegiance will be with Penn State - for Friday that is.

"Most of my friends aren't avid volleyball fans so they'll probably be cheering for us," said McClendon. "They have a lot of school pride though, so I hope UK does well in their game too. It'll be interesting to see what my friends do if we end up playing UK on Saturday night."

The extra support will help McClendon adjust to the electric atmosphere the team will be playing in this weekend. After practicing at UK's Memorial Coliseum yesterday, reality has hit, as she prepares herself for Penn State's first away match in the tournament.

"We got in to practice and did our normal routine," said McClendon. "I can't wait to take the court [on Friday]. It's all about the spark you get from being in the tournament, and that's always really exciting. The whole team is excited and just ready to go out and show people what we've been working on all year."

McClendon is also proud of the way the freshmen have handled their first tournament, recalling her own pre-match nerves just last year.

"Some of the freshmen girls actually came up to me today and talked about the feelings they're having now and finally realizing what we're doing," said McClendon. "This is tournament time. They've never experienced this. It pumps everyone up and we all want to play our best. It really gives us that motivation to go for every point."

The pressure is on for the Penn State women's volleyball team, who will play UCLA tonight at 5 p.m. A match between UK and No. 1 Texas will follow at 7 p.m., with the winners of both matches set to face off at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.

In McClendon's words, "it's do or die" for Penn State.

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When you look up the rosters of most athletic teams on the Penn State campus you will often find a solid mix of different athletes from each of the four classes, freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. 

That is not the case for the Penn State Lady Lion basketball team, and more specifically, Tori Waldner. 

Waldner, the 6-5 post player from Georgia, is the only freshman on this year's promising Lady Lions squad. 

While some might say being the only freshman on a team ranked 12th in the preseason (according to the Associated Press) would be a major challenge, the transition has been mostly a smooth one overall for the Lions young post player, a fact not lost on others around the program.

"She's fantastic, she's got a very bright mind, she picks up things pretty well and she's got a very high basketball IQ," said head coach Coquese Washington on the young post player.

That bright mind will be important to use at this year's squad is returning the core of their roster from last year's 25-10 team, and will be looking forward to getting off to a fast start this season, with Waldner being a part of it.

For Waldner, while it has been a big transition, being with this group of players and coaches has helped make the jump to the Division I level go as smooth as possible. 

"It's been hard work, but it's been fun," Waldner said.  "The teammates have been awesome."

As the freshman has gotten used to the college game she has been able to lean on advice of those older teammates to know what to expect and get used to college not only on the court, but off it as well. 

"Ariel (Edwards), Talia (East) and Maggie (Lucas) (the Lady Lions three sophomores) were my roommates over the summer and they took really good care of me, I was kind of like the baby of the team," Waldner said. 

The three roommates helped her in everything from eating habits to knowing where to go on campus. 

The learning Waldner is happening on the court as well, and more and more as the season wears on.

"They're going to get me so much better just learning from them," Waldner added on the help from her teammates.

That learning and improvement is not only something that Waldner is expecting of herself, but something the other players have seen already.

"She has grown a lot just in a couple months," said Penn State junior forward Nikki Greene.  Adding that sometimes picking things up as a college athlete can be very tough on a freshman, but she has seen Waldner do well in that area.

"I like her skill set," added forward Mia Nickson, "She's going to be really good."

Coach Washington also is a fan of the freshman's skill set so far, adding that while she not only is learning things quick right now, she is just going to keep getting better.

"I like what I'm seeing out of her right now, in a few weeks and months the game is going to slow down for her and she's going to be able to do some good things for us," said coach Washington.  "She's going to be very good, she's a very skilled player and I'm looking forward to watching us grow once we start playing games."

Washington sees good things in the future for Waldner, and is hoping the mix of that talent and the group around her can provide advantages and be a big help to this year's squad moving forward.

"She's got a luxury because she's playing with experienced people so she'll get a chance to look and watch what they're doing out there on the court," Washington said.

"I expect her to be able to knock down some shots for us and put the ball in the hole," Washington said, also mentioning that rebounding and defending with her 6-5 size will be a huge plus for the team.

The way Waldner has worked so far this season any of those expectations can be possible, and the baby of the team will start to become a lot more than that.

By Alexa Hetzel

Hello Penn State Swimming and Diving Fans,

It's amazing to me that it is already December and that this past weekend we spent competing at our midseason meet.  Where the year has gone I can't tell you, but I can tell you about the amazing few days we had in Columbus, Ohio representing Penn State.

Our December midseason meet has always been a fast one since I've been at Penn State.  There are always break out swims, best times, and season bests reached while we remain untappered and unshaved.  This year was no different.

It would be an understatement to say that going into this past weekend we didn't have high expectations.  We drove five hours to swim fast and that's exactly what was accomplished. 

The first day of competition may not be our strongest with only a few events, consisting of the 500 free, 200 IM, and the 50 free, but we made sure it was a strong day.  We had people back in every event and had multiple people in the scoring heats, first to sixteenth, as well as in the bonus final.  When we left the pool deck that night we knew we had set the tone for the type of meet we wanted to have and it was just a snowball effect from there.

The next day we kept rolling.  The 400 IM, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 100 fly showed our depth and drive to always compete and do our best.  This day was a "marathon" for some.  We had people competing in two individuals as well as relays at night and even with adversity staring us in the face we only continued to get stronger.  Remembering Big Cat Day made it seem like a breeze.  By the end of the second day the Nittany Lions had jumped Purdue by a staggering 50 points and there was still one last day to go.

Day three is the day of biggest hearts; it's the day of competitors and not for the weak.  It was our day.  With tiredness and tightness beginning to creep upon us we knew that there were two options.  We could fall to the easy path and give up or we could fight and use the past four months to push through it.  On day three I think almost every person swam that night at finals.  The 100 free, 200 back, 200 fly, 200 breast and the 1650 proved to be no match.

As we all climbed back into the Fullington Bus and drove the five hours home after the meet there was a sense of excitement and determination.  The meet was over and we had swum faster than some of us ever had before but what separates us from other people is the fact that we want more.  Big Tens is right around the corner and to have seen such fast swimming now only makes February look that much better.  So as we come closer and closer to our goals and closer to the end of the season the excitement begins to build because if this meet was any indication for what is to come, I can't wait to be apart of it.

Tom Bradley

Dave Joyner

Stay tuned for more from the TicketCity Bowl announcement event on GoPSUsports.com.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament field has been trimmed down to 16, and the eighth-seeded Nittany Lions are in the Regional Semifinals for the ninth consecutive season.

Penn State marched through its first and second round matches in Rec Hall for a date against ninth-seeded UCLA (26-6) at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky., in the third round of the tournament.  The Lions and Bruins will collide on Friday at 5 p.m. (ESPN3.com).  Top-seeded Texas (24-4) and host Kentucky (28-5) will meet at 7 p.m. (ESPN3.com).  The two winners will clash on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (Live on ESPN2) with a trip to San Antonio on the line.

The four-time defending national champion Nittany Lions will head on the road for the first time in the postseason seeking their 27th consecutive victory in the NCAA Tournament.  Penn State has won seven straight matches leading up to Friday's contest against a UCLA squad making its first appearance in the Regionals since 2008.

Penn State freshman setter Micha Hancock and the Nittany Lion attack tandem of Ariel Scott and Kentucky native Deja McClendon clicked in the Nittany Lions' 3-0 sweep of Delaware on Saturday.  Scott and McClendon tallied a combined 44 kills during the first two NCAA matches.

The Lions will be looking for more of the same from Scott and McClendon in Lexington.  Additionally, Katie Slay, Maddie Martin and the freshmen duo of Nia Grant and Aiyana Whitney will play a big role at the net for the Lions.  Serving and passing will again be crucial for the Nittany Lions against a talented UCLA squad. 

The Bruins lead the all-time series with Penn State by a 6-4 margin.  The last meeting came on Aug. 30, 2008 with the Lions posting a 3-0 victory.

The NCAA field is down to 16.  Saturday's matches around the nation will punch four tickets to San Antonio for the National Semifinals.  Friday begins Penn State's quest to be one of the final four teams left in the draw.


VIDEO: NCAA Tournament Player Preview Interviews

Regionals Statistical Rundown

A Closer Look at UCLA

The Bruins enter the Lexington Regional following victories over Maryland Eastern Shore (3-0) and San Diego (3-1).  UCLA finished second in the Pac-12, behind second-seeded USC, with a 17-5 conference mark.  With a 26-6 overall record, the Bruins put together several very solid victories during the season.  The list includes a season split with USC and a sweep of Stanford.  UCLA knocked off the Cardinal 3-0 on Stanford's home floor.

The Bruins played four teams that were on the Nittany Lions' schedule, including Oregon (1-1), USC (1-1), Stanford (2-0) and Ohio State (1-0).  Penn State posted a 3-2 record against the same teams.  As for personnel, 6-3 junior outside Rachael Kidder is the top offensive player for the Bruins.  She is averaging 4.56 kills per set while attacking at a .236 clip.  Fellow outside hitter Tabi Love, who Penn State is very familiar with after her two seasons at Minnesota, is second on the team with 2.68 kills per set.  Sophomore Kelly Reeves, who stands at 6-0, averages 2.05 kills per set for the Bruins.  Senior libero Lainey Gera is a very talented player with a beach volleyball background.

UCLA is a team with a very high volleyball IQ.  Penn State will be looking to play physical volleyball at the net.  Keep and eye on Kidder and Love for the Bruins.  They are the two players that can put a lot of pressure on the Nittany Lions.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at Penn State's 61-57 setback against Lafayette on Wednesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.


Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between Penn State (6-3) and the Lafayette Leopards (3-4) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  The Nittany Lions own a 12-3 edge in the all-time series between the two schools.

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Glover, G - Marshall, F - Oliver, F - Travis

First Half:

14:31 - Penn State 10, Lafayette 8
Penn State jumped out to a 7-0 lead thanks to a pair of baskets from Jermaine Marshall, who came into the game averaging 10.8 points per game in his last five.  Marshall is a very important player for Penn State's success as the season wears on.  Ross Travis has three early tallies after making his fourth appearance in the starting lineup.  The Lions are dominating the glass, 7-1 through the first 5:29.

11:39 - Penn State 14, Lafayette 14
Coming into the game, Lafayette's 3-point shooting was the focal point of the scouting report.  The Leopards have several good outside shooters that can put the ball in the basket when open.  The perimeter presence has been a big factor thus far.  In addition to a trio of made 3-pointers, Lafayette's back-door plays off the perimeter have tied the game.  For the Lions, Tim Frazier picked up his second foul at the 11:58 mark and the junior point guard is on the bench.

6:51 - Lafayette 26, Penn State 20

Fueled by a 10-0 scoring run, the visiting Leopards jumped on top by eight.  Lafayette has made five of its 11 3-point attempts in the first half.  Penn State struggled offensively with Frazier on the bench.  The Lions are shooting just 35 percent.  Nonetheless, they are down just six and continue to dominate the boards, 17-7.

2:50 - Lafayette 32, Penn State 26

Frazier came back on the floor and made an immediate impact for the Nittany Lions.  He may only have two points, but five assists gives you an idea of the impact he has brought to the game, despite being in foul trouble.  Marshall has reached double figures for the fourth time in six outings.  The Nittany Lions are still struggling shooting the ball, but they trimmed the deficit to just three before a long 3-pointer from Nick Petkovich put the Leopards up by six.

0:00 - Lafayette 37, Penn State 32

The stat of the first half was 3-point shooting for both teams.  Lafayette went 7-for-17 from beyond the arc in the first half.  Penn State was 0-for-11 from three-point range until Billy Oliver drilled a 3-pointer with 1:48 to play.  Oliver's 3-pointer cut the Lafayette lead down to just three, but the Leopards answered with two foul shots to head into the break with a five-point lead.  Penn State dominated the rebounding column of the stat sheet, 26-13.  Penn State needs to do a much better job defending the 3-point arc, but it comes down to scoring the basketball on the other end of the floor.  Shooting just 37 percent in the BJC is a figure the Lions will improve upon in the second half.  Marshall leads the Lions in scoring with 11 points.

Second Half:

15:38 - Lafayette 44, Penn State 39

Every time the Lions appear to be finding some rhythm on the offensive end of the floor, Lafayette takes advantage of its opportunities on offense to keep the lead at two or more possessions.  A driving basket by Marshall set the score at 44-39.  Woodyard will be at the foul line following the media timeout to trim the margin even more.  Nonetheless, Penn State needs to find a way to get some stops and push the tempo.

11:11 - Lafayette 51, Penn State 41

Lafayette has its largest lead of the night thanks to a 7-0 scoring run.  Penn State cannot find a rhythm on offense, and the Leopards are executing well on their end of the floor.  Had it not been for a couple bad rolls off the rim, the Leopards could be up by a couple more baskets.  Coach Chambers was very clear when the team trotted to the bench to stop shooting threes and get to the foul line.  Penn State is 2-for-18 from the 3-point arc.  Credit Lafayette for clogging the paint with its 2-3 zone.

7:54 - Lafayette 51, Penn State 47
The Nittany Lions are beginning to show some life.  A basket from Collela and two from Woodyard have cut the lead down to just four.  Penn State has extended the floor and picked up the tempo with a press defense.  Frazier has struggled from the floor (0-8), but the Lions are down just four with plenty of time remaining.  Keeping the tempo at a faster pace will be key.

0:00 - Lafayette 61, Penn State 57
Penn State had its chances down the stretch to gut out a victory, but the ice cold shooting proved to be the deciding factor in a slim loss to Lafayette.  A Travis tip-in off the glass with 4:35 to play set the scoreboard at 53-51, Lafayette.  Marshall then pulled the Lions within two at 58-56 with 2:12 remaining.  Nonetheless, several dry possessions and a key free throw from Lafayette guard Nick Petkovich extended the lead to three.  A Frazier foul shot with 10.4 seconds to play would be the final tally for the Lions.  The junior point guard finished the game 0-for-12 from the field for three points and nine assists.  Marshall led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds.  Travis chipped in with a career-high 12 points and eight rebounds.  Woodyard added 10 points and seven boards off the bench.

Final Thoughts:

It is difficult to beat anyone when you shoot 33 percent (19-58) from the field and 13 percent (3-23) from beyond the arc in your home gym.  Penn State could not find a way to put the ball in the basket on a consistent basis on Tuesday night.  Give a lot of credit to Lafayette for mixing up its defensive looks and switching on Frazier throughout the night.  Penn State out-rebounded Lafayette by a 47-26 margin.  Additionally, the Lions pulled down 20 offensive rebounds to Lafayette's four.  The Leopards shot just 38 percent from the field, but they found a way to win with the game on the line.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Lady Lion defense wore down Virginia Tech on Tuesday night taking the win 66-28. A strong man-to-man defense pressured the Hokies throughout the game, holding the team scoreless during the final 13:15.

"We were able to stay fresh," said head coach Coquese Washington. "I think the last 8-10 minutes of the game we were able to sub and stay fresh and finish the game strong. When you're not in foul trouble you're able to do those things and play at a pace you want to play."

Man-to-man defense was the focal point going into the game, as Penn State knew they had to limit the Hokies' open shots. This preparation paired with quick transitions helped the Lady Lions get the win.

"Coach told us we were going to be playing more man that usual," said junior guard Alex Bentley. "We just came off of a couple games where we've been playing zone, so we knew we had to focus on our man-to-man defense. I think we did a pretty good job of it."

The game got off to a slow start for both teams with the score 3-2 in favor of the Lady Lions, five minutes into the first half. A layup by Bentley with 12 minutes left, spurred a 14-0 run by the Lady Lions, as their defense took control of the Hokies, forcing turnovers and contesting shots. Bentley went on to become the 32rd player at Penn State to score 1,000 career points.

"She's worked really hard to become a better player," said Coach Washington. "It's a testament to her work ethic, her focus and her impact on this program. I'm really happy that she's able to have this kind of accomplishment."

By halftime, the Hokies were held to 25 percent shooting from the field, and made only one offensive rebound. The opposite held true for Penn State, who made six offensive rebounds and shot 39 percent. This was critical for the Lady Lions as they went into the locker room leading the game 27-15.

"I thought defensively we were pretty disciplined and pretty smart," said Coach Washington. "At halftime they hadn't shot any free throws and we gave up one offensive rebound. That was a testament to our discipline and our intelligence on defense to make shots as opposed to bail them out with fouls. I was really happy with our first half."

The Hokies came out strong during the second half, making 18 points within the first seven minutes. With the defense slowing down, the Lady Lion offense stepped up, making 71 percent of their shots.

After making adjustments on defense to combat the renewed offensive effort by the Hokies, Penn State shut down Virginia Tech with 13 minutes left. The Hokies would not score again, being held to their lowest point total in school history.

"We didn't give them too many open shots," said Coach Washington. "For the most part I thought we did a good job of making them shoot contested shots and rebounding when they missed. We didn't give up very many second-chance points this game. I think that was the difference."

The players were happy with their defensive effort as well. After scoring more than 100 points in three games this season, Tuesday night reiterated to the players the importance of playing defense when their offensive game is not as explosive.

"So much came from our defense today," said sophomore guard Maggie Lucas. "We just turned it on a little bit. We seemed slow on offense today, so I think we just kind of reminded ourselves to pick it up and play better."

The Lady Lions continue to improve, hoping to find what works well with their teammates with only three games left until they kick off their Big Ten season.

"I think we definitely haven't peaked yet and we have room for improvement," said Coach Washington. "We have good confidence and good balance. I think we're understanding what kind of team we can be as we approach the Big Ten Season. I like where we're going and where we are."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson for the latest installment of This Week In Penn State Wrestling.  Coach Sanderson talks about the Nittany Lion open and previews this weekend's duals at Lehigh and at home against West Virginia.

First Half:

10:34 - Penn State 12, Virginia Tech 6

The early tempo played into Virginia Tech's hands.  The Hokies are the type of team that likes to eat time off the shot clock before attempting a shot.  In doing so, it limits the number of possessions Penn State's high-powered offense will receive.  Both teams started a bit slow offensively, but Maggie Lucas is off to a quick start.  Lucas is 3-for-5 from the floor for seven points.  A Nikki Greene lay-in put the Lions up by six (12-6).  The Hokies are just 3-for-14 from the floor through 9:26 of game clock.  The tempo favors Virginia Tech, but Virginia Tech has struggled to put the ball in the basket thus far.

7:03 - Penn State 18, Virginia Tech 6

The story continues to be Virginia Tech's shooting woes in the first half.  Nearly 13 minutes into the game, the Hokies are just 3-for-19 from the field and 0-for-4 from beyond the arc.  The Lady Lions are currently on a 12-0 scoring run while holding the Hokies without a basket for more than five minutes.  Seven different Lady Lions have scored, including six points off the bench from Tori Waldner, Marisa Wolfe and Talia East.  Penn State is well in control early on both ends of the floor.

0:00 - Penn State 27, Virginia Tech 15

Anytime you hold a team to just 15 points, you need to be pleased with the defensive effort.  Virginia Tech did not convert its fair share of easy baskets, but Penn State played very well on the defensive end of the floor.  Virginia Tech managed just 7-for-27 shooting (26 percent).  The Lady Lions shot 39 percent from the field, but used a 14-0 mid-way through the first half to take control of things.  The tempo largely favored the Hokies, but Penn State's defense made it very difficult for Virginia Tech to find much success on offense.  Additionally, the Lions dominated the rebounding battle, 25-15.  All nine players in uniform for the Lady Lions saw action in the first half.  Seven of the nine players scored, led by Lucas and Alex Bentley with seven apiece.  With a scoop shot at the 2:00 mark, Bentley eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark.  She is only the 15th junior in Lady Lion history to reach 1,000 points.

Second Half:

15:59 - Penn State 38, Virginia Tech 19

11:24 - Penn State 40, Virginia Tech 28

7:40 - Penn State 48, Virginia Tech 28

Bentley kick-started an 8-0 scoring run with a fastbreak layup at the 11:18 mark.  Zhaque Gray added her first basket of the night.  Lucas got into the scoring act with a leaning bank shot from the elbow, and then Gray added two more free throws to give the Lions their largest lead of the night up to this point.  Virginia Tech is currently weathering its second five-plus minute scoring drought, as well.

0:00 - Penn State 66, Virginia Tech 28

Penn State's defense was the theme of the night for the Lady Lions.  Virginia Tech did not score during the final 13:15 en route to the lowest point total against a Penn State team since Rider managed just 21 points in a game on Nov. 14, 2010.  It was Virginia Tech's lowest scoring output in its history.  Penn State closed things out with a 26-0 scoring run on its way to a comfortable 38-point victory.  Lucas led three Lady Lions in double figures with 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting.  Greene played a superb second half with 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting during the last 20 minutes of play.  She used her size very well down the stretch.  Bentley added 11 tallies and five assists in the victory.

Final Thoughts:

Defense has been the theme of practices for head coach Coquese Washington, and it showed on Tuesday night.  The Hokies shot just 24 percent, but Penn State's man-to-man defense was superb.  The Lady Lions challenged shots throughout the contest and made things very difficult on the visiting Hokies.  Virginia Tech has inferior size and talent, but it was very good to see such a strong defensive effort from the Lady Lions, specifically on the perimeter.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team (6-3) returns home on Wednesday night for a contest against intra-state foe Lafayette (3-5).

The Nittany Lions battled to a narrow 72-70 setback against Ole Miss on Sunday night.  Lafayette comes into the 7 p.m. tip having lost three straight games.  Nonetheless, the Leopards feature a lineup with three players averaging more than 10 points per game, including Jim Mower (17.9 points per game).  Mower scored 37 points, including 10 3-pointers against Farleigh Dickinson on Nov. 22.

GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Brian Daly leading up to Wednesday's contest against Lafayette.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following Sunday's bowl announcement, take a look at some noteworthy news pertaining to Penn State and the TicketCity Bowl.

Top 25 Bowl Matchup

The TicketCity Bowl clash between No. 22 Penn State and No. 19 Houston is one of just four non-BCS bowl games between two Top 25 teams.  Three of the four games include Big Ten teams.  The list includes the Capital One Bowl (No. 20 Nebraska vs. No. 9 South Carolina), Outback Bowl (No. 16 Georgia vs. No. 17 Michigan State) and the Cotton Bowl (No. 6 Arkansas vs. No. 8 Kansas State).

Penn State vs. Conference USA
The Nittany Lions will be playing their 16th game against a current member of Conference USA when they meet Houston.  Penn State is 14-0-1 all-time against members of Conference USA.  The list includes East Carolina (2-0), Houston (2-0), Marshall (2-0), Rice (2-0), SMU (1-0-1), Southern Miss (2-0), Tulane (1-0) and UCF (2-0).  Penn State has not played Memphis, Tulsa, UAB or UTEP.

Houston vs. Big Ten
The Houston Cougars own a 4-8 mark against current members of the Big Ten.  Houston's most recent contest against a Big Ten team came on Sept. 6, 2003 at Michigan (L, 50-3).  The record is as follows: Illinois (1-1), Michigan (0-3), Michigan State (1-0), Minnesota (1-1), Nebraska (1-0), Ohio State (0-1) and Penn State (0-2).  Houston has never played Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue or Wisconsin.

Lions to Wear Home Jerseys
Penn State will be the home team for the TicketCity Bowl and will be wearing blue jerseys.  The Nittany Lions will be on the west sideline of the Cotton Bowl Stadium.  Houston will be the away team clad in white jerseys.  Both teams are required to patch the TicketCity Bowl logo on their jerseys.

Kickoff the New Year
Penn State and Houston will be the first college football kickoff in 2012.  With the NFL regular season set to wrap up on Jan. 1, all of the traditional bowl games normally played on New Year's Day will kickoff on Jan. 2.  The TicketCity Bowl will be an 11:06 a.m. CT kickoff on ESPNU.

Cotton Bowl Stadium
The Cotton Bowl Stadium is second only to the Rose Bowl Stadium in hosting more collegiate bowl games than any other football stadium in history.  The Cotton Bowl hosted the first Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year's Day in 1937 between TCU and Marquette.  In 1960, the Cotton Bowl Stadium became the home field for the Dallas Cowboys, at the time an expansion team.  The Cotton Bowl has hosted anything from Elvis Presley concert (1956) to FIFA World Cup matches.  In 2008, the stadium underwent a major renovation project, including new seating, turf, facilities, concessions, restrooms, HD video boards and a new sound system.  The stadium currently has a seating capacity of 92,158.

The City of Dallas
The Nittany Lions have not played a game in Dallas since Jan. 1, 1975 at the Cotton Bowl against Baylor (W, 41-20).  Dallas is the ninth-largest city and part of the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the nation.  It covers approximately 343 square miles and has a population of 1,299,543.  DFW International Airport is the world's third busiest airport, offering nearly 1,750 flights per day.

Thursday Team Announcement Event
An official announcement of the TicketCity Bowl matchup will take place at The Owner's Box at the Omni Dallas Hotel on Thursday.  Head coaches and athletic directors of Penn State and Houston will speak at the event.  GoPSUsports.com will be traveling with the Penn State staff to the event to provide coverage from Dallas. 

Bowl Practice Begins Friday

The Nittany Lions are scheduled to begin practicing for the bowl game on Friday and Saturday in Happy Valley.  Teams are allowed 15 bowl practices under NCAA rules.  Friday is the final day of classes for the fall semester.  Final exams begin on Monday.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The Penn State Lady Lions are looking to bounce back from a 70-66 road loss to Texas Tech over the weekend as they come back home to take on ACC foe Virginia Tech Tuesday night.

Both teams will be looking to use a variety of scorers to help bring home the win.

The Virginia Tech Hokies (2-5) rely on a trio of guards who average double-digits in the scoring column.

The Hokies leading are led by 5-11 guard Monet Teller at 18.9 points per game to go along with her 5.1 rebounds per game.  Complimenting Teller is Aerial Wilson at 12.9 points and 4.6 assists per game, and Alyssa Fenyn at 10.1 points and 5.1 boards per contest.

The Lions (6-2) will also look to their own trio of guards, and leading scorers, Maggie Lucas, Alex Bentley (who needs five points to reach 1,000 for her career) and Zhaque Gray to bring home the win.

Lucas, Bentley and Gray average 18.3, 15.6 and 13.9 points, respectively, to compliment the rest of the roster in what has been an explosive offense overall on the year.  The team has been averaging just over 75 points a game while only allowing an average of 64 per game on the defensive end.

The Lions have faced a variety of opponents this season from the speed and athleticism of North Carolina to the star from Delaware in Elena Delle Donne and will look to use the team's past games this season as a way to prepare moving into their home contest.

So far being home has been a great thing for the team as they are a strong 3-0 on the Bryce Jordan Center floor, including a big 103-84 over the then 13th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

That game was a fast-paced back and forth contest that saw the Lions hold a 58-51 lead at the half before holding the Tar Heels to 30 percent shooting in the second half to pull away for the win.

All five Lions' starters knocked in double figures in the scoring column led by Gray who poured in 25 points to lead the way.  Lucas also chipped in with 21 despite foul trouble and Bentley added 15 to go along with a career-high 15 assists to get the win.

With the thoughts of their last home win, Penn State will look to put their Texas Tech loss behind them and go 2-0 vs. the ACC this season taking on the Hokies.   

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After playing in 18 games as a true freshman during the 2009-'10 season, 6-9 forward Sasa Borovnjak entered the summer looking to play a big role on the Penn State front line during his sophomore season.

Borovnjak put in superb effort during the summer leading up to the start of fall practice.  He appeared to be on track for significant playing time on a front line featuring Andrew Jones and Jeff Brooks.

But things changed abruptly just minutes into the first official day of practice on Oct. 7, 2010.  In a non-contact drill, Borovnjak tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee.  The Belgrade, Serbia, native missed the entire season as he rehabilitated.

It had to be difficult for Borovnjak to watch from the bench in street clothes as the Nittany Lions earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament following a dramatic run at the Big Ten Tournament.

While the team was practicing on the middle of three practice floors in the gymnasium at Catalina Foothills High School outside of Tucson, Ariz., one day before taking on Temple in NCAA Tournament, Borovnjak was rehabbing his knee running sprints and working on post moves individually on one of the adjacent courts. (Note the far court in the background of the image)

Borovnjak continued to work hard throughout the summer to get more strength in his knee.

The hard work paid off in season-opener against Hartford on Nov. 12 when Borovnjak made his first appearance in a game since a Big Ten Tournament game against Minnesota on March 11, 2010.  The forward had not seen game action in 20 months and one day.

He scored four points and pulled down three rebounds in Penn State's 70-55 victory against the Hawks.  Borovnjak then tallied a career-high nine points and five rebounds against Long Island two games later.

That brings us to Sunday evening in the Bryce Jordan Center.  Facing a team with superior size and athleticism, the Penn State big men knew it was going to be a challenging battle against Ole Miss.

Borovnjak got on the board early with a physical move at the 17:00 mark in the first half.  He went on to score eight points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first half.

The 6-9 forward was just getting started.  He scored seven points in the second half on 3-for-3 shooting, including two clutch baskets in the final 6:07.  Borovnjak tallied 15 points on 7-for-7 shooting, in what was the best game of his young career.

"I always said this to Sasa," Coach Chambers said.  "When you are out for a year, it's going to take a little while to get used to the game speed. I felt like tonight for Sasa it slowed down. He really took his time and played at his pace. He's a thick guy, so play at your pace. I don't envision him getting 15 every night. But, I definitely see 10 and seven and 12 and six, somewhere around there. Anywhere from 8-12 points I think he is very capable of doing on any given night and I think that's who Sasa is going to be for us."

With Jon Graham out for the next couple weeks with mono, Borovnjak knew that he had to step up for the Nittany Lions.

"We work hard every day," Borovnjak said.  "It's also about timing, Jon Graham is sick and I had to step up and play more minutes."

Like everyone on the Penn State roster, confidence plays a huge role in how well the Nittany Lions play.  It was clear from the opening basket forward that Borovnjak believed he could be an impact player on Sunday night.  And he backed that up with the best scoring night of his career.

"I just went out there and played with great confidence," Borovnjak said.  "I was in the right spot, my teammates shared the ball well and I just made the play."


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When it comes time for bowl season, teams across the nation want a postseason matchup against a very good opponent

Penn State and Houston got one on Sunday, as the 24th-ranked Nittany Lions (9-3) and 20th-ranked Cougars (12-1) are set to clash on Jan. 2 in the TicketCity Bowl at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Both teams had aspirations of playing in a more prestigious bowl game, but this matchup has the potential to be a very intriguing one at noon on Jan. 2.  Penn State and Houston combined for 21 victories in 2011.

The third all-time meeting between the two teams will pit a Houston offense that leads the nation in total offense (599.00 ypg), passing offense (443.77 ypg) and scoring offense (50.77 ppg) against a Penn State defense that ranks 10th in total defense (300.92 ypg), fifth in pass defense (162.17 ypg) and fifth in scoring defense (15.67 ppg).

The Nittany Lions earned a share of the Big Ten Leaders Division with a 6-2 mark in the conference.  Penn State's three losses came against teams ranked No. 2 (Alabama), No. 8 (Wisconsin) and No. 20 (Nebraska) in the final regular season USA Today Coaches poll.

Penn State's players weathered through a tremendous amount of adversity during the 2011, and the student-athletes deserve the experience of playing in a January bowl, Penn State's 12th since joining the Big Ten.  The Lions receive 15 days of practice to prepare for the Jan. 2 clash with the high-powered Cougars.

Houston appeared to be on a track for a berth into a BCS game until Saturday when it suffered a 49-28 setback to Southern Miss in the Conference USA title game.  Nonetheless, sixth-year senior quarterback Case Keenum leads a tremendously potent offense.

Keenum missed virtually all of the 2010 season after suffering a season-ending injury during week three of the Cougars' clash against UCLA.  The senior was granted a sixth year of eligibility, and he made the most of his opportunity with a record breaking offensive season.

Keenum has thrown for 5,099 yards, 45 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2011.  He owns the NCAA career passing record, a mark he broke in early November.  Houston wide receiver Patrick Edwards is fifth in the nation with 1,524 yards.  Edwards is one of three Houston receivers with more than 900 yards receiving and at least 75 receptions this season.  Houston's most notable non-conference victory is a 38-34 triumph over UCLA.

The TicketCity Bowl is contested in one of the most storied college football stadiums in America.  The Cotton Bowl Stadium was originally built in 1921 as a 15,000-seat wooded stadium to host football games during the Texas State Fair.  The stadium played host to the Cotton Bowl from 1937-2009 before it moved to Cowboys Stadium.  Northwestern and Texas Tech played in the first TicketCity Bowl at the Cotton Bowl Stadium last season.

Penn State will be making its fourth appearance at the Cotton Bowl Stadium, which was heavily renovated in 2008.  The Lions are 2-0-1 in games at the Cotton Bowl.

The Big Ten and Conference USA have never met in a bowl game. 

That will change on Jan. 2 when the Nittany Lions collide with the nation's top offense inside the Cotton Bowl Stadium in the first bowl game of 2012.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at Penn State's 72-70 setback to Ole Miss on Sunday evening inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between Penn State (6-2) and the Ole Miss Rebels (6-1) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  The Nittany Lions play host to a team from the SEC for the first time since 1996 in a crucial non-conference game.

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Glover, G - Marshall, F - Oliver, F - Travis

First Half:

15:52 - Penn State 9, Ole Miss 9

It has been the Matt Glover show early for the Nittany Lions.  The redshirt sophomore guard earned the start and has already made the most of it with five early points and a nice wrap around pass for an assist.  Penn State's offense is going to need to score in transition against the athletic Rebels.  Ole Miss is not a superb outside shooting team, but Terrance Henry and Jarvis Summers each have threes for the Rebels.

11:56 - Penn State 17, Ole Miss 17

The flow of the Big Ten-SEC clash in the BJC has been very entertaining thus far.  The Nittany Lions are off to a red-hot start shooting the ball at 70 percent (7-10).  Ole Miss continues to knock down perimeter shots, going 4-for-6 in the opening eight minutes.  Sasa Borovnjak has been a big boost of the bench for the Lions in the paint.  The 6-9 forward is 3-for-3 for six points.  Again, Penn State needs to play at a fast tempo and score in transition to avoid Ole Miss sagging in the paint with its size.

7:49 - Ole Miss 27, Penn State 21

The Rebels have taken the largest lead of the night, largely due to eight turnovers from the Nittany Lions.  Additionally, the hot perimeter shooting has continued.  Summers is 3-for-3 from beyond the arc with 11 points already.  As a team, Ole Miss is 6-for-9 from the outside.  Nonetheless, Penn State is well within striking distance, but the Lions need to take better care of the basketball.

0:00 - Ole Miss 35, Penn State 34

After an entertaining first 20 minutes of basketball, the Rebels lead by one.  The Nittany Lions weathered 10 turnovers to pull ahead by one late in the first half after two Frazier free throws.  Frazier led the way with nine points, four rebounds and five assists.  Penn State shot 52 percent from the floor and out-rebounded the Rebels 19-15.  Ole Miss shot 55 percent from three, which was a bit of a surprise from a team that has not shot the ball well from outside this season.  Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions are playing at a tempo that favors Penn State.  Taking care of the basketball and continuing to rebound will be critical in the second half.

Second Half:

15:45 - Penn State 40, Ole Miss 38

Billy Oliver and Jermaine Marshall came out of the locker room with two big 3-pointers to give the Lions their first lead of the second half at 40-38.  The Lions have done a nice job making things difficult for the Rebels on the defensive end of the floor.  Ole Miss has just one basket in the first four minutes of the second half.

11:27 - Penn State 48, Ole Miss 45

The Nittany Lions manufactured a 14-2 run to claim a 48-40 lead, the largest by either team at the time.  Borovnjak handed the Lions an eight-point edge with a baseline jumper.  He now has a career-high 10 markers.  Marshall also has 10 points, marking his third double figure scoring game in Penn State's last five outings.  Again, Penn State is doing a superb job defensively to keep the Rebels off balance.  Nonetheless, Ole Miss answered with two straight baskets from guard Nick Williams to trim the Nittany Lion lead down to just three.

6:39 - Penn State 56, Ole Miss 55

Just when it appeared that Penn State was going to take over with an eight-point lead, Ole Miss answered with a scoring run of its own.  The five tallies from Williams and a 3-pointer by Dundrecous Nelson knotted the game at 48-48.  Frazier came right back with two baskets to put the Lions up by four, but the Rebels battled back to within one.  The game has taken on a very physical feel to it.  Penn State's key is on the glass in the final 6:39.  The Lions must rebound.

0:00 - Ole Miss 72, Penn State 70

The Rebels made one more clutch play than the Nittany Lions in the final minute of action en route to a narrow two-point victory.  Frazier made a living at the foul line in the final five minutes, which put Penn State up by five (65-60) with 4:14 to play.  Nonetheless, Ole Miss made it a point to get into the paint and score down the stretch.  Borovnjak made a huge play after a nice feed from Frazier to set the score at 68-65.  Ole Miss countered with two baskets, but the big play for the Lions came from a hard dribble drive from Cam Woodyard.  The senior forward handed Penn State a 70-69 lead, but missed a free throw that would have put the Lions up by two with 46.2 to play.  Summers came right back with an old-fashioned three-point play with 34.8 seconds to play on a physical dribble drive.  The Lions had two opportunities in the closing seconds, but fell just short.

Final Thoughts:

It was a hard-fought, physical basketball game between two competitive teams on Sunday night in the Bryce Jordan Center.  The Lions played very hard, out-rebounding a team with more athleticism, 34-30.  Penn State will learn a lot from this basketball game as the youthful roster continues to grow.  Frazier again played well with 17 points, nine assists and six rebounds.  Borovnjak was the big story, though.  The Lion big man tallied 15 points off the bench.  Marshall and Woodyard finished with 10 apiece.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Hot hands were swinging all weekend long in Rec Hall as the No. 8 Nittany Lions started their 2011 NCAA tournament appearance off with a strong offensive showing.

Penn State ousted the Liberty Flames on Friday night in Rec Hall by a score of 3-0 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, where they went on to also sweep the Delaware Blue Hens.

The four-time defending national champions showcased each and every member of their roster throughout the weekend, as Penn State head coach Russ Rose said every part of his squad was working well together.

"The good thing is that we got an opportunity to get a number of people in and everybody that was allowed to play tonight got a little chance to play," said Coach Rose after the win over the Blue Hens on Saturday night.

But shining throughout the weekend on top of solid defense, tough serving and a more controlled system was the emergence of several strong hands offensively at the net.

Sophomores Ariel Scott and Deja McClendon were especially pivotal throughout the weekend as Scott put up a total of 28 kills and hit over .450 both nights and McClendon added 16 kills with a .524 average against Delaware on Saturday.

On Friday night, Penn State hit .337 as a team and had five individual athletes swinging .380 or better while Liberty hit just .100 as a team. The next night, the Nittany Lions did one better hitting .426 as a team with four players performing better than .450 at the net.

What's more is that most of the standout performance came from freshmen and inexperienced underclassmen that were making their first real showings in postseason play. Sophomores Maddie Martin and Katie Slay as well as freshmen Aiyana Whitney and Nia Grant combined for 40 of the 93 kills that the Nittany Lions delivered all weekend.

McClendon, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season, said that her team's effort as a whole was encouraging to see after an up and down year.

"It makes me so proud," said McClendon. "I feel like people are really stepping up and becoming better and kind of growing up and I feel like that happened for me last year around this time. It makes me really excited for the years to come."

Freshman outside hitter Aiyana Whitney said that she was also happy with the way she performed in her debut appearance in the NCAA Tournament. She attributed much of her success to her fellow freshman teammate and setter Micha Hancock.

"It felt really good to kind of step up and play a larger part on the team," said Whitney. "I think that me and Micha were connecting better than we have in the past and it was good to get into a rhythm with her."

Whitney spoke confidently about her play and the rest of the offensive power on the Penn State roster, especially after the second round sweep of the Blue Hens.

"It definitely does give me more of a mindset of 'I can do this' and I should take more responsibility for what I have to do and playing pretty well tonight, I think that it just gives me confidence going into the next round," said Whitney. "I hope it sets a tone for the rest of my teammates to let them know that I'm here to help out and do what I can do."

The combination of all of the swinging threats will be heavily relied on as the Nittany Lions advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Rose not only acknowledged the talent of his younger hot hands on the court, but also gave a nod to their enthusiasm and charisma away from the competition.

"They're a lot of fun," Coach Rose said of his underclassmen. "Everybody should have a couple (laughter)."

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's volleyball team put on a strong showing this weekend as they defeated Liberty (3-0) and the Delaware (3-0), allowing them to advance to the Regional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The Nittany Lions swept both teams by utilizing all of their hitters and generating a strong offensive presence behind the net. This especially showed on Saturday night against Delaware as three players hit over .500, contributing to a team hitting percentage of .426.

"I thought it was a match that kind of got away from Delaware right from the beginning," said head coach Russ Rose. "I thought we served tough and we passed well. One of the advantages that we thought we did have was that we went over the top of their block."

On Friday night, it was sophomore middle hitter Ariel Scott who made the difference for the Nittany Lions, as she was determined to keep her team out in front of the Flames. Scott had a convincing 16 kills which chalked up to a .452 hitting percentage.

"A. Scott was doing awesome this weekend," said sophomore outside hitter Deja McClendon. "She really took control of the game and she's always there when we need a big kill. It's great for our team right now."

The first set against Liberty started out with four lead changes as the Nittany Lions struggled to find momentum on the court. Scott kept Penn State in the game by making critical kills throughout the set, helping her team to pull ahead of the Flames and end in a dominating fashion. It was a late kill by McClendon, however, that gave the Nittany Lions a much-needed 11-3 run to close the set 25-16.

Liberty jumped to an early lead in the second set, but two kills by Scott allowed Penn State to pull ahead of the Flames, and the team never looked back. A late run by Liberty gave it some momentum, but the Nittany Lion defense held strong, posting three team blocks led by sophomore middle hitter Katie Slay. Penn State ended the set 25-16, with a block by freshman outside hitter Aiyana Whitney.

The third set was all Penn State's, as it tallied the first point, holding onto the lead the entire set. Sophomore outside hitter Maddie Martin took the spotlight on offense, making six kills. The Nittany Lions ended the set 25-16.

The offensive showing Penn State had against Liberty, carried over to Saturday's match against Delaware as Penn State dominated behind the net. Freshman setter Micha Hancock had control over much of the game, distributing the ball to many of her hitters. The players acknowledged this as being an important aspect of their win.

"That's definitely a key point that helps us out a lot," said McClendon. "Our serving was a lot better tonight and our passing game as well."

Penn State jumped to a 9-2 lead in the first set and stayed out front the rest of the night. The freshmen hitters played a large role behind the net, hitting over the Blue Hens blocks.

A kill by freshman outside hitter Nia Grant started a 9-1 run late in the set and a final service ace by freshman defensive specialist Dominique Gonzalez gave Penn State the win 25-18.

"We were serving tough," said Coach Rose. "With the impact of the serve, our block was bigger too."

Scott came out strong in the second set, tallying kills on the first two plays. Penn State had a convincing 13-2 lead before Delaware attempted to make a comeback, stalling the Nittany Lions early success. Scott refused to back down, however, helping her team to a 25-9 win with two final kills.

Taking a break on offense, the Nittany Lions posted six team blocks during the third set, effectively stopping Delaware's offensive play. McClendon made her first strong showing of the night with five kills in the set and senior outside hitter Katie Kabbes fittingly closed her career at home with a final kill, handing Penn State the win 25-18.

"The good thing is that we got an opportunity to get a number of people in the game," said Coach Rose. "Everybody that was allowed to play tonight got a little chance to play."

After their performance this past weekend, the Nittany Lions feel confident going into their next match in Lexington, Ky., but they know they can not underestimate their opponents.

"I'm pretty confident," said Grant. "But I know that any day, any team can play good, so you just have to go every day and play hard and want to win."

Set One: Penn State 25, Delaware 12
The Nittany Lions wasted little time taking over in the first set.  An error from Delaware and a combined block from Katie Slay and Deja McClendon fueled a 7-2 lead right out of the gate before the Blue Hens burned their first time out.  Delaware closed to within four (11-7), but the Lions rattled off eight unanswered to build a comfortable cushion.  Freshman Nia Grant started the rally before McClendon tallied a kill.  Maddie Martin then dropped her first of two aces into an open spot before Delaware committed back-to-back errors.  From there, the Lions put things on cruise control en route to a 25-12 set victory.  After tallying a total of 4.0 blocks on Friday night, the Lions managed 3.0 in the opening set on Saturday.  Penn State hit .500 in the first set, while the Blue Hens managed just .000 hitting.  McClendon led the way offensively with four kills.

Set Two: Penn State 25, Delaware 9
Penn State picked up right where it left off at the beginning of set two.  Two straight kills from Scott and back-to-back aces from Micha Hancock handed the Lions a quick 6-0 lead before Delaware called time out.  A combined offensive effort from a pair of freshmen - Grant and Aiyana Whitney - helped Penn State push the lead up to 13-2 before the Blue Hens scored their first offensive tally of the set.  The Nittany Lions seemingly did whatever they wanted to in the second set on their way to a 25-9 victory.  The story through two sets has been Penn State's defense, limiting Delaware to .032 hitting.  Penn State has attacked at a .435 clip, thanks to a balanced offensive attack led by 11 kills from Scott.

Set Three: Penn State 25, Delaware 18
Delaware kept things close from the opening serve in the final set of the match.  A Slay kill put the Lions on top 10-8, but the Blue Hens countered with a kill to set the score at 10-9.  McClendon buried her seventh kill of the match to make it 11-9, but Delaware again had an answer, which tied the set at 11-11.  The Blue Hens were not done there, as they scored three straight points to take a 14-13 lead.  Nonetheless, two kills and a pair of Delaware errors fueled a 4-0 run from the Lions before the Blue Hens used a time out.  Whitney came out of the break with a kill.  From there, the Lions finished things off with a 25-18 set victory to seal a 3-0 sweep.  Scott again led the way offensively with 12 kills on .458 hitting.  McClendon registered 11 kills on .524 hitting.  Grant played a superb match with seven kills (.667) and five blocks, as did Whitney with eight kills (.500).  As a team, the Lions hit .426, while the Blue Hens attacked at a .062 clip.

Quoting Coach Rose
"I thought it was a match that got away from Delaware right from the beginning.  They are a much better team (than the score indicates)."

"I thought we served tough and I thought we passed well."


Looking Ahead

The Nittany Lions moved on to the third round of the NCAA Tournament with a complete team effort on Saturday night.  The Lions served much better than they did on Friday and they passed efficiently en route to a dominant victory.  Penn State was tremendous at the net, hitting above the Delaware block throughout the match.  Additionally, the Lions played a much better defensive match with 11.0 team blocks.  Anytime you hit .426 in an NCAA Tournament match it is a good indicator of very strong offensive outing.  More importantly than the numbers though, Penn State had contributions from a large number of different players, specifically the freshmen attackers.  Confidence for Penn State's freshmen in future NCAA Tournament matches is invaluable.  The Lion rookie duo of Whitney and Grant both hit better than .500.  Penn State took a step forward on Saturday with a dominant performance, but the competition will be a different story when it arrives in Lexington next week.  The Nittany Lions will face either ninth-seeded UCLA or San Diego in the Regional Semifinals on Friday.  Penn State did what it needed to do on its home floor advancing to be one of the final 16 teams in the draw.  At this time of year, advancing to the next round is the only thing that matters.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a road victory at Boston College, the Penn State men's basketball squad (6-2) takes on SEC foe Ole Miss (6-1) on Sunday at 6 p.m. inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Nittany Lions welcome an SEC team to the BJC for the first time since a 41-40 overtime victory over Tennessee in 1996.  GoPSUsports.com sat down with associate head coach Eugene Burroughs for a video preview of the Ole Miss game.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The four-time defending national champion Nittany Lions have been able to begin postseason play on their home court for the last 22 years in a row.

And after sweeping the Liberty Flames of the Big South (25-16, 25-16, 25-16), Penn State took its 17th-consecutive win at home in NCAA Tournament competition.

In front of a crowd of more than 2,200 playoff hungry fans, the Nittany Lion offense powered behind .337 hitting against Liberty's number of just .075 as a team. Sophomore outside-hitter Ariel Scott had the hot hand on the night with a match-high 16 kills on .452 hitting while freshman setter Micha Hancock made a solid showing in her first postseason appearance, guiding the offense with 36 assists and three kills of her own.

Penn State head coach Russ Rose said that he is happy to have the ability to host the first round of the NCAA tournament yet again this year and was satisfied overall with the way both his offense and defense came out against the Flames.

"You're always pleased when you get that first match out of the way," said Coach Rose. "You never how you're going to play and you never know especially with a team with as many young people as we have."

Freshman defensive specialist Dominique Gonzalez was just one of the five freshmen who made her postseason debut against Liberty, and she said that she was not only humbled but also confident on the tournament stage for the first time.

"It's definitely a milestone," said Gonzalez. "It's an honor to be able to be playing in the NCAA Tournament. It's not pressure or anything but you want to go out there and you want to do your best for your team."

Before the match between Penn State and Liberty, the Blue Hens of Delaware defeated American University 3-1 to advance to Saturday night's second round match. Delaware will face the Nittany Lions in Rec Hall at 7:30 p.m.

The Nittany Lions know that the postseason is a place where anybody can get hot and every team is looking for the win. Scott said that getting the opening win of the tournament is key for her team and hopes to continue the trend against the Blue Hens.

"Every win counts so no matter what team it is," said Scott. "Every team is going to play hard and as we've seen so far in the tournament, anyone can win so it was really nice to win our first match and we'll hopefully win again tomorrow."

Set One: Penn State 25, Liberty 16

Despite playing on the home floor of the four-time defending national champion Nittany Lions, Liberty showed no signs of nerves in the early stages of set one.  The Flames led by two points on two different occasions before a 4-0 burst from the Lions set the scoreboard at 13-10, Penn State.  The Nittany Lions began to find a rhythm towards the latter stages of the set.  A Deja McClendon kill triggered a 6-2 scoring run, which set the score at 20-15 before Liberty used its second time out.  From there, Penn State scored the final five tallies of the set en route to a 25-16 victory.  The Lions tallied a .282 hitting percentage while holding Liberty to a .053 clip.  Ariel Scott registered seven kills on .636 hitting in the opening set.

Set Two: Penn State 25, Liberty 16

Like they did in the first set, Liberty opened set two with an early lead.  A kill from the Flames set the score at 3-1 before a Slay kill kick-started a 6-0 scoring surge before the Flames burned an early timeout.  Penn State led by a count of 10-3 before Liberty snapped a 9-0 surge from the Lions.  However, the Nittany Lions would answer again in the middle of the set with 5-0 run.  Freshman Nia Grant kick-started the scoring rally with a kill and an ace, which put the Lions up 18-8 on the scoreboard.  Penn State led by as much as 12 tallies, but the Liberty put together a four-point rally to trim the margin down to eight.  Nonetheless, freshman Aiyana Whitney finished things off with two nice plays at the net to set the final score at 25-16.  Scott again tallied seven kills in the set, giving the talented sophomore 14 for the match on .609 hitting.

Set Three: Penn State 25, Liberty 16

Quoting Coach Rose
"I would like to first thank the administration for putting in a bid to host."

"You are always pleased to get that first match out of the way.  You never know how you are going to play (in that first match."

"(The NCAA Tournament) is a great opportunity for people to step up and be the best they can be."


Looking Ahead

Penn State moves on to face CAA champion Delaware in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. inside Rec Hall.  The Nittany Lions played a solid match on Friday night against a very hard-working Liberty squad.  Scott did a nice job hitting the ball over the top en route to a superb night offensively.  Two stats that stand out on the final box score are service errors and blocking.  Penn State committed eight service errors and was out-blocked by a 5.0-4.0 margin.  The Nittany Lions will need to serve much better moving forward in the NCAA Tournament.  Overall, it was a solid out, but Coach Rose is expecting another valiant effort from Delaware on Saturday night in the second round.  Here is a side-by-side statistical comparison of the two teams. (Stats do not include updates following Friday's matches.)

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

November 16, 2011

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's upperclassmen with this entry from Lindsay Musgrove and Stephanie Brock!

It has been a tough week here in Happy Valley with everything that has happened. We are realizing now more than ever how important our Penn State pride is and that all there is to do now is come together. Especially as a student athlete body we have been trying to show our support for each other and become even closer than before. Last weekend, along with many other student athletes, we went out to send our Field Hockey team off to NCAAS. They recently won Big Tens, but it got overshadowed with everything else that has been going on. It was nice to see all the teams come together in their blue and white, cheering and chanting Penn State fight songs, still just as proud to be Penn Staters.

As a team, on Friday night, we also all went out to support our soccer team, who won against Army in an NCAA tournament. On Saturday, many of us went to the Penn State, Nebraska football game - the first football game in Beaver Stadium without JoePa in over 50 years.  It was a "blue out" in support of all victims of child abuse, and the stadium was completely packed.  It was more than just a game, it was two teams coming together in light of everything that had happened. At the start of the game, Nebraska and Penn State both huddled up in the middle of the field in a prayer circle, one of the most emotional moments I have witnessed yet in college football. Also, at every game there is always an S-zone in the student section, where depending on your seat, you get a certain colored t-shirt to spell out a big "S" in the stands.  At this game, there was also a ribbon next to the big "S", and we happened to be a part of it. It was a very emotional weekend, however it showed the world that Penn State is more than just the actions of a few people, it is an entire university with pride, honor, and tradition, and that will never change.

With Thanksgiving break just around the corner, we are all excited to go home and be with our familes. However, we are still staying focused on practices as we get ready for season, which is also coming up fast. This Saturday we have our Thanksgiving intrasquad, which should be a lot of fun and a good indicator of where we are at. We have really been working on details, consistency, and hitting under pressure. In addition, both inside and outside the gym, we have been working on coming together as a team. This Monday we are planning a team meal - "Mexican" themed.  We all split up into groups and are each cooking an entrée for the meal. It should be interesting to see how good our teammates are in the kitchen. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone!!!

Lindsay and Steph

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with Penn State Acting Director of Athletics Dave Joyner on Friday to discuss a wide range of topics, including the bowl game revenue initiative, Penn State's bowl game destination, search committee and the coaching search itself.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the 22nd consecutive season, Penn State will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament.  The four-time defending national champion Nittany Lions (23-7) open their title defense against Liberty (20-12) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall.

The winner of the Penn State-Liberty match will move on to face either American (23-10) or Delaware (20-12) on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

For the Nittany Lions, they closed the season with five straight victories, including back-to-back wins on the road during the final week of the regular season.  Penn State knocked off Ohio State and Michigan State to cap off a second place finish in the Big Ten.

Sophomores Ariel Scott and Deja McClendon lead the Lions into the postseason offensively with 3.59 and 3.48 kills per set, respectively.  McClendon was the MVP of last season's NCAA Tournament.  Sophomore middle hitter Katie Slay was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year following a superb season blocking on the front line.  Slay averaged 1.44 blocks per set during the regular season.

The centerpiece of the Penn State offense will be freshman setter Micha Hancock, who enters the tournament as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.  Hancock has made very good strides throughout her rookie campaign.  Hancock is one of five freshmen on the roster competing in their first NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore libero Ali Longo will anchor the back line for the Nittany Lions.  Longo leads the team with 3.31 digs per set.  As a group, the Lions have made significant progress from the first match on Aug. 26 to the opening match of the NCAA Tournament.

Now, it is win or go home for all 64 teams on the bracket.  Penn State has won 24 consecutive matches in the NCAA Tournament and 16 straight postseason matches at home.  The Lions have ended the year with a national title trophy four years in a row.  The title defense begins on Friday in Rec Hall.

VIDEO: NCAA Tournament Preview Interviews

 First and Second Round Statistical Rundown

Feature Story Corner

- Veterans Set for NCAA Tournament Return

- Newcomers Entering First Postseason


Q&A: The Radio Voice of Penn State Women's Volleyball

GoPSUsports.com's Brian Tripp has provided live radio or television coverage of the Nittany Lion women's volleyball team throughout the 2011 season.  We caught up with Tripp for his thoughts on the team as it enters the NCAA Tournament.

Q: How much has the team grown from August to now?
Tripp: "In the beginning of the season, they had so many different lineups it was hard for them to jell, but now they are a cohesive unit.  Everyone understands their roles and you can just see the freshmen are so much more comfortable out there on the floor.  It really makes them a better team.  Before, they were thinking instead of doing, and now they are doing and thinking all at the same time.  The team really has grown."

Q: What needs to happen for this team to be successful in the postseason?  Do the freshmen need to play at a certain level; do the veterans need to play at a certain level?  What is it going to take to be successful?
Tripp:  "I think on a team aspect, they have to play well as a team and pass well as a team out of the back row.  That's one thing that has been a recurring theme, passing poorly at times in the season.  If they can pass well out of the back row, they can make it a whole lot easier on the freshman setter in her first tournament.  Micha Hancock is an exceptional server and an exceptional setter for being a freshman, but if her task is made more difficult because the back row isn't strong, that's a lot of pressure on her.  That's one of the worst possible things that can happen, to have a freshman be bearing that much weight.  If the passing out of the back row is solid, the serves are between the white lines on the court, then they can control the game."

Q: Your thoughts on the draw?
Tripp: "Well, they are not in Hawaii.  When you have two conference champions in the same bracket, the team that was second in the National Tournament last year in the same bracket out in Hawaii, you breathe a sigh of relief that you are not there.  It could have been better, it could have been worse.  That's not in their control, at all.  You just have to play who you are told to play and go out and get the job done.  Texas is going to be very tough assuming they get there.  You cannot overlook any of the opponents come tournament time because there is no double elimination. You lose and you are done.  You have to take it one match at a time.  Whoever the next opponent is, you go out and play them.  If you are going to win the NCAA Tournament, you have to beat six teams, and no matter what six teams they are, somewhere along the line you are going to run into a good opponent."

Q: In your eyes, who is the key player to watch?
Tripp: "Deja McClendon.  Absolutely.  Last year in the final three matches of the tournament, she averaged 5.2 kills per set and that is on a team with Blair Brown.  She picked up her game in last year's tournament.  She is an elite kind of player.  When she gets hot, they feed off of that energy. You can see it in the stretch with the last home match against Purdue, especially.  Deja outplayed Ariel Turner from Purdue, Big Ten player of the year.  When she gets going, the rest of the team gets going as well.  I am not worried about the defense with Penn State.  I think the back row will get the job done. If the offense attacks and Deja McClendon is hot and Ariel Scott plays consistent, I think it will be a great game."


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - There might not be any snow on the ground and it may not feel like the holiday season just yet, but for Penn State setter Kristin Carpenter the start of postseason volleyball means that it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

"We didn't win the Big Ten but we have an opportunity to win something greater," said Carpenter.  "Just having that opportunity just puts us all in different moods and as the songs have been singing, this is the greatest time of the year for us."

This season marks the Penn State women's volleyball team's 31st consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

The last four times that the Nittany Lions entered into postseason action, they came out with a national championship.

Starting on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall, the 2011 team will begin its playoff journey in hopes of ending it the same way.

As defending national champions and the eighth-seeded team in the tournament, Penn State plays host to the first round of the NCAA Tournament amongst American, Delaware and Liberty.

Getting set to face Liberty on Friday night on their home court, senior outside hitter Katie Kabbes and junior setter Carpenter agreed that their excitement for postseason volleyball is even more so with the ability to play in State College.

"It's just nice because we have the greatest support system and the greatest fans and knowing that we get to play on our journey hopefully to the Final Four, we get to play in front of our fans and show them what our mentality is how we're ready to go in the tournament," said Kabbes.

"They're not just rooting for us, they want to see good volleyball so we're really grateful that we got a first round pick," said Carpenter.

Neither Kabbes nor Carpenter has experienced anything less than a winning season in their time with the Nittany Lions, as both veterans have earned national championships each year they have played.

Kabbes, who is looking to round out her collegiate volleyball career with a fourth championship ring, says that when it comes to postseason play its all about keeping your eye on the price.

"This is a new team," said Kabbes. "Every team we play we just have to go in with a game plan and execute that and it's just a bigger focus. With the tournament it's one loss and you're done and we want to finish on a high note. We know each team is a new team we're facing that we haven't played in the past like in the regular season."

As five sophomores and two freshmen have been in the starting lineup for the majority of this season, Kabbes said that she has been lending her advice and experience to the young starters.

"I've been talking to a lot of the younger girls a lot about how this time of year it's about confidence and knowing that we're good enough," said Kabbes. "We've competed all season against top teams in the country and the losses we've had, we know we could've pulled out a win in those so it's knowing that we're good enough to compete and just going out there and playing confidently."

Carpenter has also been talking to her teammates and explained how playoff volleyball revolves around the idea that "anybody can get hot", and how that notion can sometimes make for an unpredictable tournament.

"That is probably the theme for this year," said Carpenter. "It's really crazy this year but we're really focusing on that it's not who you play it's how we play. We have to pick our game up, we have to focus on us because that's the only thing that we can control."

The Nittany Lions hold a 23-7 overall record heading into the first round of the NCAA Tournament and did not win the Big Ten title this season, but Carpenter said that unlike last year, she is confident in the talent that her team will put out on the floor.

"Last year if you would have told me that we were going to even be in the final four I would have laughed in your face," said Carpenter.

"This year, I think we can do it," said Carpenter. "It's a very humbling confidence because we've had a lot of very humbling moments this season but we have the talent, we have the goal and we know what we want."

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - This is it for the freshmen on the Penn State women's volleyball team. Everything they have worked for this season finally culminates this weekend when they play in their first NCAA tournament.

"The freshmen are really excited because it's our first experience with the tournament and it's all a really big deal," said freshman setter Micha Hancock. "It's been a long season so you kind of lose sight. Now the tournament is here, in your face, and we're just ready to go. This is it."

After earning the No. 8 seed, the Nittany Lions will face Liberty University on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament hosted at Rec Hall. All eyes will be on the five freshmen players as they experience the postseason for the first time.

"I'm super excited," said freshman outside hitter Nia Grant. "This is what you wait all year for and I can't wait to start it."

The women's volleyball team holds a 23-7 overall record this season and hopes to continue finding success this weekend. With the guidance of veteran players, the freshmen feel they will be prepared going into the game on Friday.

"The older girls tell us to play hard, try our best, and work hard in practice every day," said Grant. "It's the same thing as the whole year. Nothing's changed."

Although the team's focus may not have changed, the Nittany Lions know they must stay consistent with their level of play in order to defeat their opponents. With the players facing the top teams in the nation, they are working hard each practice to improve their communication and to find consistency playing together.

"I feel we have to respect the game," said Hancock. "We need to go in and play the best we can. We can't play around with these teams because they all want to win. We can't underestimate anyone. The key to winning is playing hard. We can do it if we play hard and we play together well."

This maturity and understanding of the game has allowed the freshmen to step into their roles on the court, giving them more confidence each day. Whether they are digging balls, assisting kills or serving, each player is able to add a new strength to the volleyball team.

"We know we have to go out there and do our best," said Grant. "We can't really compare ourselves to the past teams. We are a totally different team. We have to work in new ways, to meet new goals."

Fans will have the chance to see the team first hand Friday night in Rec Hall at 7:30 p.m., as the freshman step up and hope to become part of the winning tradition that is Penn State women's volleyball.

"We're all pumped up," said freshman defensive specialist Lacey Fuller. "After we watched the brackets as a team, we all just felt like 'This is it. This is what we've worked for.'"

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com caught up with redshirt freshman Dylan Alton for the latest edition of This Week in Penn State Wrestling leading up to Sunday's Nittany Lion Open.

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Having one of a good thing is nice, having two of that thing is often a lot better.  Looking at the Penn State Lady Lions they have a lot of positive things going for them, but two early award candidates are really sticking out in the young season.

With point guard Alex Bentley and guard Maggie Lucas the team is able to trot out two Naismith National Player of the Year candidates to go along with an already deep roster. 

When one is down or not in the game the other can help lead the team and step up, which is just what happened Wednesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. 

With Maggie Lucas in foul trouble all game long he 15th-ranked Lions followed Bentley and senior guard Zhaque Gray's lead Wednesday night in a big 103-84 home win over the 13th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

Gray led the team all game long with big shots to score 25 points and Bentley chipped in with 15 points, 15 assists and only one turnover.  Those two, along with the rest of the squad were able to help outscore the Tar Heels 22-15 with Lucas on the bench for 12 minutes in the second half.

Having a balanced attack was key for the Lions all game long as all five starters, including Lucas, were able to hit double figures.

"I have a lot of confidence in this team," said head coach Coquese Washington on how balanced they were.  "They work hard in practice and we always talk about being a team. One person is not going to win a game for us. One person is not going to lose the game for us." 

Washington also added that circumstances without a full lineup in other games have helped the team in situations when a starter gets in foul trouble in a big game like this one. 

"We have not played one game with our entire team in uniform this season, but we played well enough on most nights, Delaware excluded, to come away with a W," she added.  "As long everybody continues to be focused on getting better and everybody is focused on doing their job when they are in the game, we will be OK." 

Outside of the starters all scoring in double figures for the home team, the bench was also able to come in and contribute in what was a high-scoring, fast-paced game. 

"Our bench came in and elevated our play with their energy and rebounding," Washington said.  "We play hard and smart. I just like what our team does. We play together and play with confidence. We try to stay poised no matter what, and play with energy and have fun."

With that confidence, teamwork and hard work the Lions were able to come up with the biggest win in what is a young and promising season. 

"It's a really big win," said point guard Alex Bentley.   "This is what we dream about; growing up, practicing, getting in the gym all the time and playing these great teams."

"We talked about all this years ago when we recruited them (the players)," added Coach Washington.   "For them to have this experience is huge for our team. I am looking forward to us having more of these kinds of opportunities and games."

Buckeye Land

If you ask any of my friends about me, they'll probably tell you that I have the most school spirit ever. I go to almost every sporting event, I know the words to every fight song, I never turn down an opportunity to wear my school color (or my lion ears) for everyone to see. I love Penn State from the very first time I stepped foot on the University Park campus. My first football game in Beaver Stadium was indescribable. When I was picked to be a Sonic Road Warrior, I knew that this would be the opportunity of a lifetime, to share my love for Penn State with other people and promote such an Eco-friendly and cute car. Who could ask for anything better?! 

I've never been to an away game before. The fact that I was chosen to attend the Ohio State game in Columbus, I was so ecstatic! The drive into Buckeye Land was awesome! OnStar worked so well and we arrived there in about 5 hours flat. Our trip to Buckeye Donuts the following morning was our first encounter with other Buckeye fans. Despite the delicious french toast, hot chocolate and friendly service, not once did I receive a smart comment from an Ohio State fan. I even asked one what their favorite donut was and why and they responded just as if I had a red jersey on. 

After breakfast we set out to explore the Ohio State campus. I liked how open and inviting it was; It even resembled our campus in some ways. Mirror Lake was my favorite landmark followed by the echoing wall. When arrived at the Penn State Tailgate in the afternoon, I couldn't believe the number of Students and Alumni that came out to support our Lions. There had to be over a thousand people there. I knew we were going to make ourselves known amongst the Buckeye's that we still are Penn State and we will always support our lions. What really touched me was a visit from several student leaders from Ohio State. They stopped by our tailgate to wish us good luck and a good experience from other buckeye students. That's exactly what I received. I sat right next to an Ohio Stater at the game and we dove into some very interesting conversation. That's what being in the Big 10 is all about. I really love the fact that both Penn State and Ohio State fans and players treated each other with respect. We were all gathered in the horseshoe to watch a great game of football and what a game it was! To come out of that stadium with a win shows how hard our players have worked and how determined they are to earn that Big 10 title. 

Leaving the stadium, I came across an Ohio State student who called me over to him, hugged me and said, "You guys are a great team. Beat Wisconsin." I was beside myself. I hugged him back and smiled and thanked him for being so kind. The other Road Warriors experienced similar situations as well. This road trip has really changed my mind about Ohio State and their students. They treated us with class, and I can't wait to do the same next time they make a trip to Happy Valley. I thank Chevy for allowing me to witness this once in a life time experience, and until next time, We are... Penn State!!! 

Tracey!