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