The Daily Collegian
Saturday could determine Big Ten champ
By Ryan Loy
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
met in each team's conference
There are three weeks of Big opener Sept. 24, and Illinois came
Ten play remaining, but for Illinois away with a five-set victory,
coach Kevin Hambly, Saturday’s The victory gave them the Big
match at Rec Hall may mean the Ten lead, which the Illini have held
McClendon (left) attempts a kiil during a game earlier this season
Freshman Longo sees turning point in season
By Emily Kaplan
OiJXGIAN SfA
When she's on the sideline dur
ing matches, freshman Ali Longo
keeps most of her focus on the
court.
She'll always finds herself
glancing over down the bench -
where the Penn State women's
volleyball coaches are sitting.
As a defensive specialist, that's
the nature of her position.
She never know s when she'll be
called on to go in. And as a fresh
man, it was difficult at first to
adjust.
"It's something 1 just had to get
used to," Longo said
"It's hard not knowing especial
ly when you're going to go in. So
it's kind of an on call basis and it
was weird at first."
Last Friday, against then-No. 15
Michigan. Longo played what
coach Russ Rose called the rook-
championship for his team.
The Illini and Penn State first
ie's best match to date.
Longo said that success gave
her confidence.
And her teammates think that
could mean one thing: This could
be a turning point in the season for
Longo.
"It's really
tough, as a fresh- ■ %
man. to come in at |
any position." sen jT VK
ior co captain
Alyssa D'Errico I * JH
"Whether it be a 1 *jpflf|i
full-time position. I fly
or a position like l —*
hers. So it’s a good *- on f> o
turning point for
her to play well, especially against
Michigan. That was a huge match
for us. and to turn it on in that
match, that's awesome. And we re
looking for her to contribute fur
ther in the season for us."
Longo will get that opportunity
SPORTS
or shared ever since.
Now, the No. 8 Nittany Lions
(24-1,11-3 Big Ten) have a chance
to get their first share of the con
ference lead when they host No. 9
Illinois (20-4, 12-2) at 6 p.m.
Saturday at Rec Hall.
Each team must first play
tonight, with the Lions hosting
Wisconsin, while Illinois plays at
Ohio State.
Hambly said Saturday’s match
may hold higher importance for
both teams, but he wants his
Illinois team to take it one match
at a time.
“There are a lot of matches
after that, and all the matches are
important,” Hambly said.
“If we lose another one,
whether it’s to [Penn State] or
someone else, then we’re tied for
first place in the Big Ten or maybe
worse.”
With the Lions entering the
weekend one game behind Illinois,
freshman Deja McClendon said
Saturday's match is a must-win
for her team.
That's not saying McClendon
and the Lions are placing extra
importance on the match because,
like Hambly they know each con
ference match is as big as the
next.
For now, McClendon said the
Illini are just the next barrier
blocking the Lions from their
this weekend, with two matches
against Wisconsin and No. 9
Illinois starting at 7 p.m.
tonight, then 6 p.m Saturday.
Against the Wolverines a
nationally televised match in a
hostile Ann Arbor environment
the Nittany Lions were down 13-9,
in the second set when Rose
subbed Longo into the match to
serve.
The Colorado native served
Penn State to seven straight
points, giving the Lions a three
point cushion, and a lead they
would never relinquish.
Penn State won the match in
three sets, putting the seven-time
defending conference champions
in sole possession of second place
in the Big Ten.
“I think any time you have a
really good weekend, like Ali did,
you can use that confidence mov
ing forward," senior co-captain
Blair Brown said.
“If we lose another one, whether it’s to
State] or someone else, then we’re tied
place in the Big Ten or maybe worse.”
eighth straight conference cham
pionship.
Illinois’ roadblock on the Lions’
drive to a Big Ten championship
may have been lessened with the
loss of Illini senior Laura
Deßruler, who suffered an anteri
or cruciate ligament tear in
October.
Penn State coach Russ Rose
said Deßruler is one of the mar
quee players in the conference,
but he believes Illinois has done a
great job of moving past the
senior’s injury.
“They've got a very deep team,
and they've found a number of
ways to win," Rose said. "They've
really been able to get a lot of
experience and use the depth they
have at their program and haven't
missed a beat."
In the teams' first meeting.
Deßruler returned from a two
week absence with mononucleo
sis. and Rose said her offensive
impact wasn't quite as strong as
usual, but she provided good lead
ership.
Hambly said the Sept. 24 match
“I think any time you have a really good
weekend, like Ali did, you can use that
confidence moving forward.”
Rose pointed out that Longo
had a mediocre match the next
night, against unranked Michigan
State.
She played in all four sets, but
recorded two of the Lions' nine
service errors.
“She didn't play as well on
Saturday, but Friday she came in
and we scored I seven] points
when she was serving and she
served tough at a critical time
against a great opponent on the
road," Rose said.
"So that's a far cry from when I
put her in against Illinois and she
couldn't make enough errors
before she was taken out."
PENN
STATE
WRESTLING
home opening
wrestling metch!
Sunday @ 2pm in Sec Hall
Tickets still available at the door
Peni State students get in free with IB
Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 I 13
[Penn
for first
Kevin Hambly
Illinois coach
was “sloppy” and didn’t showcase
the highest level of play from
either team.
Illinois was able to attain that
victory for its home fans, and Penn
State will look to do the same
Saturday.
Penn State senior libero Alyssa
D’Errico said the Lions want to do
everything they can to defend
their home court.
She said no matter who the
opponent is, every match at Rec
Hall is a big one.
Though Illinois currently leads
the Big Ten. Hambly doesn't know
if his team will even be the best in
the gym Saturday.
"I think they’re playing at a
higher level, but a lot of the Big
Ten is,” Hambly said of Penn
State.
“I do think that they've been
playing at a higher level that's
more consistent than anyone else
in the Big Ten, and I think they’re
probably the best of anyone in the
Big Ten right now."
To e-mail reporter: rmlsl3B@psu.edu
Blair Brown
senior co-captain
Rose was referring to the Lions
early-season loss to the Fighting
Illini the match that snapped
Penn State's 65-mateh conference
winning streak.
"In the beginning of the season,
I think 1. and the other freshmen,
were just trying to adjust to the
college game which was hard,"
Longo said.
"But 1 haven't really looked
back. Playing well last week
end...it definitely gives me eonfi
dence. There's not much else you
can say. just that 1 feel more confi
dent."
To e-mail reporter: exkso49@psu.edu