The Daily Collegian Wrestling From Page 14. Pisani had worked his way into the starting role at 141-pounds before leaving the team. It is now the job of Adam Lynch to fill the void left by Pisani. Sophomore Clay Steadman, who rooms with Pisani, said there was some surprise behind the 141- pounder’s departure. Pisani, who was unavailable for comment, beat the then-No. 8 wrestler in the country during the Dec. 6 Nittany Lion Open, and Steadman believes he was doing well in the early portion of the season. But Steadman had some under standing of the reasons why he left the team. "He said he didn’t have the drive for it anymore,” Steadman said. 'He didn't want to be in something that his heart wasn’t in.” Steadman also had a connec tion to Macchiaroli as they were the only two 197-pounders on the team. Macchiaroli, who could not be reached for comment, trans- Experience From Page 14. Indiana coach Felisha Legette- Jack said. "Our kids play hard and when you play that way you get antsy and you shuffle those feet a little bit." Penn State took advantage of those times when an Indiana play er’s feet shuffled or when an Indiana player threw an errant pass en route to an 18-12 advan tage in points off turnovers. The Lions knew coming in that Indiana was turnover-prone and looked to capitalize off mistakes. Julia Trogele (11) defends Indiana’s Jori Davis in Penn State’s overtime win Sunday. ferred to Arizona State to be clos er to home. Steadman said he sensed Macchiaroli was uncom fortable in State College from the excitement he had to go home for Thanksgiving break. Macchiaroli’s transfer puts some pressure on Steadman, who said it’s important he avoids injuries and doesn’t make “stupid decisions” again after he was held out of two dual meets earlier in the season for drinking alcohol on his 21st birthday. The team has a no drinking policy dining the season. The departure of Jenkins, a decision made by the coaching staff, doesn’t have a great impact on the Lions’ future tiffs season as Frank Molinaro has had success filling in at 149. Molinaro is ranked No. 5 at that weight and was the Lions’ last remaining undefeated wrestler before dropping a bout Saturday to No. 4 Kyle Teny of Oklahoma. Still, the presence of Jenkins who said he may not have fit in with Sanderson’s style of wrestling is something sopho more Cameron Wade will miss. Junior forward Julia Tlogele, who scored 18 points in the win, said Indiana is a team known for its intensity. That veracity had allowed Indiana to accumulate a plus-,93 turnover margin, which is fourth in the Big Ten. But if the Lions could manage their turnovers, they felt they could turn that aggressive style against the Hoosiers. “They hustle every play, but I think we came out and hustled after every play too,” Thigele said. Penn State also had a bit of its youthful side show in the win, as the team finished with 17 turnovers. But, as coach Coquese SPORTS “It’s sad to lose someone from your team, especially good wrestlers,” Wade said. “You never want anyone to quit, especially someone you’ve been on the team with since you’ve been there, but if their heart’s not in it anymore they’ve just got to make that decision for them selves.” The impact of losing the three wrestlers will be felt most during practice as the depth of the team decreases. Steadman said it’s diffi cult to get better if each grappler doesn’t have tough competition pushing them in practice. However, the team is still in good position heading into Big Ten meets. Pataky has faith and trust in the coaches and has no animos ity toward his departed team mates. “I’ve known those guys for a while, and they’re real nice guys,” Pataky said. “They obviously have different goals, and I wish them the best in anything that comes their way.” To e-mail reporter: rmlsl3B@psu.edu Washington noted, 11 of those turnovers came in the first half. Washington said she was happy with the way her team countered Indiana’s aggressive style and made the most of those instances in which Indiana made a mistake. The Hoosiers’ turnovers allowed the Lions to play their style of basketball, a running style that relies on transition baskets. “We wanted to get them to play a little bit faster,” Washington said, “maybe take quick shots or turn the ball over so we could get out in transition.” To e-mail reporter: wmlsoos@psu.edu Win From Page 14. Lions blocked 10 shots on the game and outrebounded the Hoosiers despite playing one of their top defenders. Sophomore Renee Womack was sitting on the bench with her crutches next to her after suffer ing a left knee injury in Saturday’s practice. Washington said the guard will have an MRI on Monday but said it’s not look ing good for her to return to the lineup for at least the next few weeks. While the Lions couldn’t rely on Womack to provide a defen- Column From Page 14. Hodge to even the match at two sets apiece. Hooker and Ashley Engle could have done that for Texas. It was about freshman Darcy Dorton scoring and then screaming at die top of her lungs in the second set despite trailing by seven. The point meant nothing. The pure pas sion and the message sent everything. It was about junior libero Alyssa D’Errico diving to the floor three times in one forgot ten point in the fourth set. The Lions would lose it when her third sprawling attempt at a pancake fell short. But in the point D’Errico let the Horns know Penn State wasn’t going to lose the match. Texas would have to win it. It was about Blair Brown, who struggled to stop Hooker fllrlfl/MHfl/fr STUDENT STORE | I * ■* McLanahans i u. aavn iown 116 S. *Ben Street |||s| Open 8 jUM. - 9 p.m. wssmmamsm r n?m nmrsusm «* FEATURING THESE VEU SPECIALS: PEPPER CHEESE- $4"/LB PEPPER TURKEY- $7"/LB ; I Boar^Head iPnffHtum Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 I 17 sive spark, the team still had three players with double-digit rebound totals. The Lions were pleased with their ability to match the Hoosier’s physicality in the post and felt that their ability to step up helped close out the game. Even with the Hoosiers trying to slow down Grant, who scored 27 points, the Lions felt they could’ve done more things right. “We just didn’t execute. We didn’t do what coach Coquese told us to do at the beginning of the game,’’ Grant said. “We didn’t take the best shots.” To e-mail reporter: aass22o@psu.edu early in the match and had trou ble serving, being able to com pose herself after each error and respond 13 times. The junior middle blocker finished with 13 kills on an off night. Had it been best-of-seven sets, it would have gone seven. Best of nine? Well, you get the picture. Maybe the Lions weren’t the ‘ better team on Dec. 19. There was no better team. Just a deserving champion and a valiant runner-up. Because of effort like D’Errico’s, emotion like Dorton's, perseverance like Browns, and, yes, also the talent of a team with four first-team All-Americans that night Penn State was that deserving champion. Again. Andrew J. Cassavell is a junior major ing in journalism. He is a Collegian women's volleyball and men's basket ball reporter. His e-mail is a]cs23B@psu.edu. PENN STATE ROOM
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