University Park, Pa., May 22, 2006 ¨C Matches against nine teams that competed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, including seven that were listed in the final poll by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), highlight the 2006 Penn State women¡¯s volleyball schedule.

From the final AVCA poll, Penn State will play Missouri (No. 8), Wisconsin (No. 10), Texas (No. 16), Purdue (No. 17), Minnesota (No. 21), Ohio State (No. 23) and Northwestern, who received votes in the poll. The Nittany Lions will also square off against NCAA Tournament participants Duke and LSU.

¡°The schedule provides a good mix of teams that will both challenge us and allow us to measure different players in different positions,¡± said head coach Russ Rose, who will be entering his 28th season at the helm of the Penn State program. ¡°We have several question marks to work through in the early portion of our schedule to find out what our most competitive lineup will be.¡±

Penn State holds a 351-62 (.850) record over opponents it will face during the 2006 regular season, including a 259-41 (.863) Big Ten record since joining the conference for the 1991 season. The slate also features first-time meetings with Nicholls State and Tennessee State in the sport of women¡¯s volleyball.

The Nittany Lions open up the season at the LSU Classic in Baton Rouge, La., against Nicholls State, Rice and the host Tigers on Aug. 25-26 and then host the Penn State Invitational on Sept. 1-2 with Eastern Kentucky, West Virginia and Duke.

The squad will travel to Austin, Texas for the Texas Classic on Sept. 7-8 featuring Top 20 matchups with Missouri and the host Longhorns before closing out the non-conference portion of the schedule with the Penn State Classic on Sept. 15-16, taking on Tennessee State, Lehigh and Miami (Ohio). The Nittany Lions open up Big Ten play at home against Ohio State on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Penn State returns all but three players from last season¡¯s 31-3 Big Ten Champion squad that posted an unblemished 20-0 record in conference action. The Nittany Lions will be looking to replace three-time All-America setter Sam Tortorello, 2006 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year libero Kaleena Walters and middle and right side hitter Kim Holm. However, Penn State returns 2006 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-America outside hitter Nicole Fawcett, AVCA Second Team All-America middle hitter Melissa Walbridge, First Team All-Big Ten middle hitter Christa Harmotto, 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Cassy Salyer and 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kate Price. In addition, the Penn State adds Gatorade National Player of the Year Megan Hodge and Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year Blair Brown, Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year Alisha Glass and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Jessica Yanz.

For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.