UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - 'Tis the season for giving thanks, and the Penn State student-athletes wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you to their loyal fans on Thanksgiving.

As you sit down with family and friends to eat your traditional meal while the Lions and Cowboys host their annual Thanksgiving day home games, Penn State Athletics would like to thank you, the fans, for the unrivaled support you give every team on campus.  Penn State's teams would not be the same without the greatest fans in college sports.

As a token of their appreciation, several athletes would like to say thank you and Happy Thanksgiving for the support you give them throughout the athletic season.

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's volleyball team played its last home game of the regular season in winning fashion. After taking the win against Indiana on Friday night 3-0, the Nittany Lions went on to battle back from a first set loss, to overcome No. 5 Purdue 3-1.

"Tonight was a nice win," said head coach Russ Rose. "I thought after starting pretty slow, we picked it up. The fact that we beat [Purdue] both times we played them indicates that we had a couple of good matches against a very fine team."

Sophomore outside hitter Deja McClendon continued to impress on the court, finishing the weekend with a .377 hitting percentage. On Saturday night, McClendon made key plays offensively, triggering runs by the Penn State offense and tallying 18 kills for the night.

"I think Deja started slow but had a great weekend offensively," said Coach Rose. "The third game she was the best hitter in the gym. I thought that was really the key for us.

Friday night Penn State took on Big Ten rival Indiana, never giving up the lead in the first set. An early 8-1 run initiated by a kill from sophomore outside hitter Ariel Scott allowed Penn State to increase their lead to 11-3. The Hoosiers were unable to recover, trailing Penn State by as much as 13 points late in the set.  A final kill by sophomore outside hitter Maddie Martin gave the Nittany Lions the win 25-13.

The second set did not come as easy for Penn State as they battled Indiana for the lead. A kill by Scott put her team out front on the first play, but Indiana quickly recovered, taking the lead 3-2. The Nittany Lions stuck close to the Hoosiers until another kill by Scott allowed Penn State to retake the lead 13-12.  The Hoosier battled closely, but the Nittany Lions held on 25-23.

Set three was much like the first set as Penn State started with a 6-0 run led by a kill from sophomore middle hitter Katie Slay. The Nittany Lions made only one error during the set, dominating offensively to take the win 25-12 with McClendon tallying the final kill.

"I thought our passing was good especially in the first and third games," said Coach Rose. "Deja and A. Scott had a good night hitting and then Lacy coming in and making a couple of serves and dancing, it was nice to have a little energy out there. "

On Saturday night, No. 5 Purdue put up a fight with Penn State as they held the lead throughout much of the first set. Penn State led briefly early, but the Boilermakers out-hit and out-blocked the Nittany Lions. A 6-2 run by the Nittany Lions came all too late as Purdue took the win 25-22.

"I just think it was a slow start," said Martin. "In all aspects of the game we were slow in the beginning but then we turned it around after the first game."

Penn State refused to back down, fighting their way to the lead after losing the first set. The Nittany Lions spread the ball offensively and cut back on their errors which proved to be a success. Penn State ended the game with a 7-2 run closed by a kill from McClendon.

Set three of the night was dominated by Penn State who limited itself to only one error. The team played with great offensive and defensive prowess making three team blocks and tallying a convincing .500 hitting percentage. A 9-1 run in the middle of the set gave the Nittany Lions the momentum they needed to go on and take the set 25-15.

The Nittany Lions knew they could not let up after the third set, McClendon acknowledged, as they vowed to continue playing with the passion they had shown earlier.

"That's been our struggle a lot this year," said McClendon. "We'll come out strong and then we let up and we let teams get back into the game. At the beginning of the fourth game we just set grounds and said we're not letting them get back into this game. We're going to still compete hard and try and win by as much as we can and play a complete game."

The Nittany Lions did just that, continuing to impress offensively led by Slay and Martin. Penn State took advantage of spreading the ball among its hitters, tripping up Purdue and allowing the Nittany Lions to lead the entire set. The crowd was on their feet at set point as Slay and McClendon put up a final block for the night, giving Penn State the win 25-18.

"We need to win and every time we do it just keeps building hope for us," said McClendon. "I think we did a lot of things good today. I relish this. The good things we do just really make me happy."

The Nittany Lions hit the road for the last time in the regular season, playing Ohio State on Wednesday and then travelling to East Lansing where they will play Michigan State on Saturday.

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Deja McClendon stands by the net, eyes focused, following the ball with intense concentration. Bump. Set. Spike. She pounds the ball over the net, tallying another kill.

Whether she is on the back line digging the ball or making key offensive plays, the six-foot-one outside hitter has worked hard this season to become a constant presence on the court for the Penn State women's volleyball team. Last week McClendon accomplished just that, being recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Week for her performances against Illinois and Northwestern.

"It's awesome to be recognized," said McClendon. "It's nice to play well for a week and to have those good games offensively especially because I haven't been playing my best. I feel like I haven't been doing as much as I should be for our team and having those two good games I think really helped me out."

After a breakout year as a freshman, McClendon has worked throughout this season to adjust to her role as a primary player on the team. With six seniors graduating last year, the transition has not been easy, but after last week it seems McClendon has finally hit her stride.

"It's been really hard for me to adjust from being a secondary player to being more of a role player," said McClendon. "It was tough to figure out where I fit in, but now that I know what my job is, I think it's easier. I think I've learned a lot but at the same time it's hard to perform consistently every week."

In last week's games against Big Ten conference teams Illinois and Northwestern, McClendon averaged just over two digs per set and closed the week with a .395 hitting percentage. For McClendon, this was much needed as she has struggled in past weeks with her offensive performances.

"She's always working hard to get better," said sophomore outside hitter Darcy Dorton. "To have that focus and maintain that focus every day is something that's worth praise, so it's great that she's gotten that recognition."

McClendon's dedication and focus is apparent on the court as she moves with the upmost precision, working to stay one step ahead of the opposing team. She knows what is expected, and each week, she works hard to improve as a player.

"My main focus is to be more of a leader in a sense of getting the job done," said McClendon. "Maybe I'm not the most vocal on the team, or the loudest, but I can do my job in the game and try to be dependable. I can try to be a person that my team can rely on to put the ball away or to make a pass or to get a dig."

The Penn State women's volleyball team returns home this weekend with a match Friday night against Indiana and a match Saturday night against No. 5 Purdue. McClendon hopes to carry on her own success from last week as she looks forward to returning to Rec Hall.

"I think that momentum that we had after playing the Northwestern game we saw as a team," said McClendon. "I think using that and bringing it into this weekend is something that's going to be really exciting especially because it's our last home game of the season."

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With an overall mark of 18-6 and a well-earned conference record of 11-3 heading into another tough weekend of competition, the No. 9 Nittany Lions agreed on one thing.

It's time.

Members of the squad said that with just five matches left in the 2011-'12 regular season, it's time for the team to make a statement by coming together and finding leadership on the court.

Penn State hits the road to take on No. 7 Illinois and Northwestern in the weekend. Sophomore libero and defensive specialist Ali Longo said that against such tough competition, especially in the Fighting Illini, she and her teammates are looking to do their best together.

"I think at this part of the season it's more important for us to make sure that together we have a team unity, a team fight and we have to go into every match playing our best," said Longo. "We have to have everybody together, fighting the whole time, and then that way we can put together a good match versus having small lapses anywhere in the game."

The Nittany Lions have already defeated Northwestern once this season, but fell to the Illini just one month ago in a match that went five sets and ended in Illinois' favor.

Longo said that alongside better communication and stronger leadership, the Penn State squad has been working on their back-row line of defense and ball placement.

"We've definitely been working on passing and it's been getting much better," said Longo. "I think that our back-row defense, we could pick up a few more balls here and there, so the tenacity needs to pick up a little bit but other than that I think as long as we're solid the whole time we'll be fine."

Sophomore middle hitter Katie Slay said that another key to a pair of Nittany Lion victories this weekend is the presence of front-row players both offensively and defensively.

"I think it's important for middles to get involved in the offense that way we can kind of free up outside and pin-hitters," said Slay. "I also think it's important for us to set up a solid block to help out the defense."

Slay said that this time last year, she and her teammates knew that it was time to pick up the pace of their play and she plans on doing the same again this season. The sophomore has started in all 24 matches that the Nittany Lions have played this year, and she said that she knows that her team's performance at this point in the season will have a big effect on their future success as a unit.

"I think it's definitely time for us to start playing really strong and consistently because coming out at the end of the year and the end of the Big Tens we want to go strong into the NCAA Tournament," said Slay. "It's important for us to put in some hard work at practice and make sure that during our road matches we're really out on the floor ready to fight."

The middle hitter also acknowledged the intense atmosphere that she and the Nittany Lions will be heading into on Friday night at 7 p.m., when they travel to Champaign, Ill. to face the seventh-ranked team in the country.

"I think it's going to be an exciting atmosphere this weekend, both at Illinois and Northwestern," said Slay. "Illinois has a great student section and fan base so they're going to have a lot of support there so it's important for us to come in, play together as a team and really make sure we have good communication on the court and play hard."

After a split weekend on the road last week, Penn State is looking to add two more wins to its 11-3 Big Ten record outside of Rec Hall yet again. Longo said that she has seen what she and her teammates can do, and largely believes that the ball is literally in their hands.

"I think a lot of it is on our side of the court," said Longo. "I think we determine how the game goes based on how we play."

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Code Blue was in full effect on Saturday night as the Penn State women's volleyball team took on No. 1 Nebraska in what proved to be a trademark victory for the Nittany Lions. Fans were on their feet and blue towels waved as the Lions beat the Huskers 3-1.

"I thought it was a great crowd," said head coach Russ Rose. "I'm very appreciative of the fans, the band and the boys that were in costume today. It was a good Penn State day."

More than 4,000 fans packed Rec Hall to watch Penn State's biggest match yet this season, showing their support and school pride in a sea of blue and white. Excitement filled the air after the Nittany Lions won the first set of the night and only continued to build as the match went on.

At times, nothing could be heard over the deafening roar of the crowd and the volleyball team took notice, feeding off of the energy.

"If you look at the way that we played in Nebraska and that fifth set, being in [their home court] made a difference," said sophomore outside hitter Deja McClendon. "So for them, being here makes an extreme difference and also gives us the energy that we need to finish the game."

The match marked the first time Penn State has played Nebraska as member of the Big Ten in Rec Hall and the Nittany Lions took advantage of it. Even as the team lost the third set to the Huskers, the crowd showed their undying support, reenergizing the girls who went on to deliver Nebraska its first Big Ten conference loss of the season.

"Rec Hall is a tough place to play," said senior defensive specialist Megan Shifflett. "It's an intimidating place. There's a lot of tradition and people who really care about what's going on - the students, the boosters, and people who have always followed the team. All of that adds in and makes it an awesome experience."

The Fall Athletic Band took the lead, initiating crowd participation and cheers throughout the night as it has done since the start of the 2011 season. The band members are some of Penn State's most loyal followers, dedicating themselves to creating an electric atmosphere in Rec Hall for each match that is played.

"We were extremely excited," said freshman trumpet player Justin Kinslow. "There was definitely a lot more energy tonight then during other matches. It's awesome to come out and play for the team and to see the influence we have on their matches."

The players acknowledge the positive energy the band brings, expressing gratitude for their continued support and active participation.

"The band is a god-send," said Shifflett. "They're the best people ever. It's the band and the fans that really make Rec Hall so much of what it is today."

The band and fans showed what the Rec Hall advantage was truly capable of as Micha Hancock took to the service line with Penn State leading the fourth match 24-17. The crowd held their breath, anticipating what was to come next.

Hancock threw the ball into the air and jumped. "Boom!" the fans screamed as she pounded the ball over the net, scoring her sixth service ace of the night and handing Penn State the win. The crowd erupted giving their Nittany Lions a standing ovation, sending the players off the court in Penn State fashion. The girls waved their hands high in recognition of the fans surrounding them.

Only one thing could be heard, reverberating off of the walls in Rec Hall.

"We are...Penn State."

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The warm-up soundtrack played, the line-ups were read and the seats of Rec Hall were filled with more than 4,400 rally-towel waving fans. Happy Valley was getting ready for a night of Big Ten volleyball.

Crowds of chilly Nittany Lion fans filtered into Rec Hall on Saturday night after an exciting day at Beaver Stadium, ready to thaw off and watch two of the top ten women's volleyball teams in the nation duke it out.

No. 8 Penn State took down the Hawkeyes, 3-1, on Friday night, and continued to defend its home court on the following evening with a resounding win of the same score over the top-ranked Huskers.

Lions head coach Russ Rose again showcased multiple groups of talent on the court throughout the match, which he said ultimately helped his team work together to upset their Big Ten opponent.

"You're not going to beat a great team with one player having big numbers," said Rose. "So for us it was a collective effort and they needed to make a statement victory at some point in time so that's a nice one for them to get under their belt."

The Penn State offense hit .194 against the Huskers' .116 percentage and was led by sophomore outside hitter Deja McClendon, who said that the conference win was one that was not only satisfying but also much needed.

"We needed it, we really did," said McClendon. "We needed a time to play as a team and to get a great win like this it just restored our hope."

McClendon was solid all-around and a spitfire on the court, tallying a match-high 18 kills and notching seven digs. The sophomore's kills were more than just points. Each booming swing that she delivered had the crowd on its feet and ready for more.

"I needed to do something," said McClendon. "I haven't really been doing my job as much as I should be so finally showing up, that's good. That's what I'm here for."

Similarly, setter Micha Hancock put on quite the show against the Huskers as she delivered four consecutive service aces in the opening set, and added two more to the count before the match was over. Her final ace of the night was also the final point of set four, to end the match and take home the win.

"It was nice," said Hancock. "Honestly an ace is just a point and when we need a run that's what I want to do. I want to get a cushion for our team."

The freshman setter has been featured in all 22 Penn State matches so far this season, and she said that the win over Nebraska is one that she is especially proud of considering the youth of her team.

"I think it helps with our confidence because we're a young team like we've said before and we know we can do it now," said Hancock. "It's just going in and staying focused and playing our game."

The win over the Huskers puts Penn State at 10-2 in conference play and gives the squad a record of 17-5 overall this season.

The Nittany Lions made the match exciting.

Focusing week in and week out on communication, passing and limiting errors in particular has paid off for the Penn State squad just over half way through the 2011-'12 season.

With many years of experience in the world of collegiate volleyball, Rose said that he is not surprised that Big Ten competition has been especially tough, but he is happy to have a well-rounded team of talent.

"If you're not ready to play you're going to lose," said Rose. "We have to depend on everybody who is in there."

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Anticipation has taken hold of the Penn State women's volleyball team as it heads into the second half of the 2011 season this weekend. The Nittany Lions know their time as a young team is slowly coming to an end as they now have experience with each team in the conference and hold an 8-2 Big Ten record.

"Everyone talks about how we're a really young team, but it's a long season," said senior defensive specialist Megan Shifflett. "It's taken us a while but things are slowly starting to come together. Hopefully everything clicks at the right time when we need it to."

With six seniors graduating last year, it was a new beginning for the team. Even with consistency a recurring problem throughout the season, the Nittany Lions have worked hard to find success on the court in an effort to carry on the Penn State volleyball legacy.

Troubles in communication and limiting errors were evident from the start with players trying to establish their new roles on the team. As the second half of the season arrives, freshman defensive specialist Lacey Fuller says improvements are evident.

"I think people are trying to start talking a lot more," said Fuller. "Communication is not to where it needs to be yet, but in general it has gotten better. When we're competing and comfortable talking with each other, everything else just falls into place."

Shifflett has noticed these same improvements and hopes that with the team working together, there will be more wins to come in the future.

"It's a process," said Shifflett. "There are times where you can see little things coming together with the communication and with eliminating errors. It will come on an individual basis where you'll see one particular player get better at something they couldn't do earlier in the season. As the individual success piles on, the team slowly comes together too."

As the team comes together on the court, the Nittany Lions look to the rest of the season with excitement knowing they have faced each Big Ten team once already. The rematches will not be easy, however, as six out of the ten remaining games are against Top 25 ranked teams.

"Right now it's getting tough," said Fuller. "This is the time when it's determined who's going to win the Big Ten which is really important. I think this weekend is going to set the tone for the next half of the Big Ten season."

This weekend will not be an easy one for the Nittany Lions who host Iowa on Friday, only to return to Rec Hall on Saturday night for a match against No. 1 Nebraska. Shifflett knows a win against Nebraska will be huge for the team, as it will give them an added boost of confidence for the rest of the season.

"With Penn State and Nebraska there's always been that rivalry. Obviously they are number one which adds a certain amount of pressure, but there's so much history between us that it makes it a big game."

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After scoring a 3-0 victory at home on Wednesday, the No. 9 Penn State women's volleyball team will make another appearance in Rec Hall on Saturday night against No. 21 Michigan.

"We know that Michigan is a really great team," said Katie Slay. "We have to go into practice and get really focused on Michigan and keep the streak alive this weekend."

Practice will be vital for the Nittany Lions, as they hope to build on their offensive role after finding success in their hitting game on Wednesday against Ohio State. Sophomore middle hitter Katie Slay and freshman outside hitter Nia Grant helped Penn State to claim the victory, contributing to the team's .462 hitting percentage.

"It all goes back to Micha [Hancock]," said Slay. "She did a great job seeing the blockers. She was really watching where they were going and she got a lot of one-on-one opportunities for the hitters."

However, freshman setter Micha Hancock was quick to point out that it was not just good game play that led the Nittany Lions to their win. Having the home court advantage with Penn State fans and the band on the sidelines was ample encouragement for the team.

"It's nice to have your fans pushing you," said Hancock. "On the serving line I'll hear the band playing and then they get quiet. I love that feeling because then I can just go for it. I'm around people that are supporting us."

Fans will have another opportunity to support the women's volleyball team as Penn State will play again in Rec Hall at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Last Match: The Nittany Lions scored another victory at home, leading Ohio State 3-0, and increasing their Big Ten conference record 7-2.

Next Match: Penn State plays Big Ten opponent University of Michigan on Saturday, and looks to improve its current record.

Vs. Michigan: MSU comes off of a loss to Michigan State, 3-1 and holds a 3-7 Big Ten conference record. Libero Sloane Donhoff has helped to carry MSU defensively in digs while outside hitter Lexi Erwin leads the team in kills. Penn State has held a 16-0 win streak against Michigan since 2003.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's volleyball team defended their home court on Wednesday night and defeated No. 23 Ohio State for the 37th time in series history with a convincing 3-0 sweep.

For Penn State head coach Russ Rose, the win over the Buckeyes was one of the better matches that he has seen his team play this season.

"I thought we did some things much better than we've done in the past," said Rose. "It was good to have a game where we didn't make a lot of errors other than the service errors. I'm appreciative of a good match with a nice crowd."

The Nittany Lions powered past the Buckeyes with timely blocking, smooth passing and a surge of offensive firepower from a handful of hitters to take all three sets on the evening.

Penn State's offense came alive even more than it has in recent matches as freshman Nia Grant and sophomore Katie Slay led the team with nine kills apiece, while sophomore Ariel Scott followed with eight of her own. Sophomores Deja McClendon and Maddie Martin each added seven kills as well, keeping the Buckeye blockers guessing on every point.

Rose said that aside from a few smaller concerns he had, he was happy with the outcome of his squad's strong hitting performance.

"For us to hit .404 is the highest we've hit in a conference match so that's a very positive thing," said Rose. "Other than the serving and a couple of people not being ready to play in the first game I thought we played a pretty clean match so I'm glad the band was here and the students because that environment really helps the home team a great deal."

And although a number of Nittany Lions made a case for themselves on the floor, Slay seemed to be the one who was getting it done all match long. The sophomore not only led the team in kills but also in blocks, tallying eight at the net all match.

Slay said that her ability to contribute both offensively and defensively is something she expects to do every game, and her play was made even more possible with the help of her freshman setter.

"I think that that is just my role," said Slay. "That's what I need to do. Like coach said there was a good match-up out there but I think it all goes back to Micha [Hancock]. She did a great job seeing the blockers. She was really watching where they were going and getting a lot of one-on-one opportunities for the hitters so that's always great when your setter is giving you a one-on-one opportunity and you have to finish.

Rose said that he was especially happy to see his 6-foot-6 middle hitter using her height and talent to make the most of her touches on the ball.

"I thought she did a nice job hitting the ball," said Rose. "You know she doesn't have to hit it hard, she can hit it high and she can just hit it into areas of the court where there are some vacant areas. I thought she did that and she had some nice blocks and she needs to do that. That's the part of the game we need her to have."

The win puts the Nittany Lions at a 7-2 record in the Big Ten and 14-5 overall this season. Penn State's match against the Buckeyes was the first of four consecutive matches that will be played in Rec Hall in the coming weeks.

On Saturday, Penn State hosts No. 21 Michigan in another conference match-up. For Slay, the team's win over Ohio State should be a good motivation tool before their next contest.

"I think it's always great to get a win," said Slay. "Especially 3-0 when we're at home as well so it definitely is nice to get a win but we know that Michigan is also a really great team so we have to come into practice and get focused on Michigan and keep this streak into the weekend."