Penn State Women’s Volleyball Holds On To No. 3 Ranking In AVCA Poll

Nittany Lions remain in top 3 after weekend split

Penn State women’s volleyball dropped one spot to No. 3 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll, released Monday.

The Nittany Lions (8-2) split their two matches over the weekend, defeating No. 13 Creighton in four sets on Friday before falling to No. 2 Stanford in three sets on Saturday.

Despite the loss to Stanford, Penn State remains one of the top teams in the country. The Nittany Lions are led by a strong offense that ranks among the top 10 in the country in hitting percentage (.324) and kills per set (14.17).

Penn State also has a strong defense, led by libero Jenna Hampton. Hampton ranks among the top 10 in the country in digs per set (5.12).

The Nittany Lions will be back in action on Friday when they host No. 14 Ohio State. The match is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPNU.

Penn State’s Strengths And Weaknesses

Strengths

• Strong offense: Penn State ranks among the top 10 in the country in hitting percentage (.324) and kills per set (14.17).
• Strong defense: Penn State has a strong defense, led by libero Jenna Hampton. Hampton ranks among the top 10 in the country in digs per set (5.12).
• Experience: Penn State has a lot of experience on its roster, with several players who have played in the NCAA Tournament.

Weaknesses

• Blocking: Penn State ranks outside the top 100 in the country in blocks per set (1.92).
• Serving: Penn State ranks outside the top 100 in the country in aces per set (1.08).
• Depth: Penn State does not have a lot of depth on its roster, and injuries could be a problem.

Penn State’s Schedule

Penn State has a challenging schedule this season, with matches against several top-ranked teams.

The Nittany Lions will open Big Ten play on Sept. 24 when they host No. 13 Ohio State. Penn State will also face No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 5 Minnesota, and No. 6 Purdue during the Big Ten season.

Penn State will also play a number of non-conference matches against top-ranked teams, including No. 2 Stanford, No. 7 Florida, and No. 8 Texas.

Penn State’s Outlook

Penn State is one of the top teams in the country and should be a contender for the national championship.

The Nittany Lions have a strong offense, a strong defense, and a lot of experience.

However, Penn State does have some weaknesses, including its blocking and serving.

If the Nittany Lions can improve their blocking and serving, they could be one of the best teams in the country.

Conclusion

Penn State women’s volleyball is one of the top teams in the country and should be a contender for the national championship.

The Nittany Lions have a strong offense, a strong defense, and a lot of experience.

However, Penn State does have some weaknesses, including its blocking and serving.

If the Nittany Lions can improve their blocking and serving, they could be one of the best teams in the country.