THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
Dwring its run to three consecutive
national championships, the Penn
State women's volleyball team set
many records.
The Nittany Lions became the only pro
gram to have two undefeated seasons, set
the record for consecutive sets won, and
defeated 109 straight opponents - a record
Dec. 9, 2005
vs. No. 17 Tennessee
Penn State's last home The Lions began their
loss. The Lions' season current home win streak, as
came to an end when it Alisha Glass and Megan
dropped a four-set match to Hodge made their Rec Hall
the Volunteers. debuts.
Sept. 1, 2006
vs. Eastern Kentucky
Christa Harmotto record- Hodge had 13 kills and 12
ed 11 kills on .917 hitting, blocks, as Penn State
while getting 11 blocks. The became the sixth Division-I
victory was coach Russ program to reach 1,000
Rose's 900th career win. wins.
Pennn State field hockey players compete in an NCAA Tournament game against Syracuse
The Nittany Lions lost the game 2-1 to end an up and down 2010 season.
Players happy with year
By Joe Mclntyre
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Over the past two seasons the Penn
State field hockey team has been on quite
the roller coaster ride.
The team went from a 7-
13 record in 2009, including
1-5 in the conference, to a
14-6 record in 2010, includ
ing the Lions' first NCAA
tournament appearance since 2008
But it's what has come in between the
last two years that would force anyone who
wanted to ride the Nittany Lions' roller
coaster to have a seriously strong stom
ach.
The Lions' leading goal scorer and
points leader, Kelsey Amy. said the 2009
season wasn't enjoyable for the Lions. She
said there wasn't a good atmosphere at
practice, during games or off the field.
It's easy to say that winning can fix any
thing, but Amy said it was team together
ness, leadership and overall chemistry
that led to the Lions' success.
There wasn't a better atmosphere sur
rounding the team this season because
they were winning, the Lions were winning
because of the better atmosphere.
"This year was just fun, we had fun at
practice, we had fun off the field and we
would all hang out," the sophomore said. "I
just think there was a different atmos
phere this year and it definitely paid off on
the field. Everyone got along really well, so
that also showed with our chemistry on the
field and such. So it was definitely a huge
turnaround from last year"
Coming off the disappointing showing in
2009, the Lions didn't exactly start 2010 off
on the right foot.
The Lions went 1-2 in their first three
games losing to then-No. 3 Virginia and
then-No. 5 Connecticut. But the slow start
was simply that a start.
7faae
iDh'AI!!IIiI']II[
Aug. 24, 2007
vs. No. 4 Texas
Sept 21, 207
vs. Michigan State
The Lions then reeled off five straight
victories, including wins in 12 out of their
next 14. Wms in that stretch came against
then-No. 5 Princeton, then-No. 7 Michigan
State. then-No. 17 Duke.
The Lions' roller coaster season
corkscrewed and turned what looked like
another possible letdown season into an
improbable run that saw them host a
NCAA tournament game.
FIELD
HOCKEY
"For us being so young and having so
many players that are inexperienced at
this level, for them to go out and compete
against [Syracuse! was great." coach Char
Morett said. "I'm just really, really really so
proud of this team and the season they
had.-
There's much for the Lions to be excited
about for in the next few seasons, as the
team will only lose three seniors for next
year Jenny Purvis, Ali Nieves and
Daneen Zug.
The majority of the Lions are either
freshmen or sophomores. meaning the
core of this team will be playing together
for years to come.
And although the 2010 season has
ended, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper
Ayla Halus is pleased with her team's
effort but feels the Lions are still on the
chain lift, well on their way to the top of
NCAA field hockey
- I'm really proud, we really turned our
season around. I definitely had anticipa
tions of us going even farther than [the
NCAA first roundl hut we gave eVery
thing," Halus said.
"It was evident on the field that every
girl gave everything they had and they left
it all on the field. Throughout the season I
thought we just became so much better as
a whole and we're all pretty young so it just
makes me really excited for the seasons to
come when we can grow as a team."
for women's collegiate sports.
Tonight, the Lions have an opportunity to
attain one more notable accomplishment,
as it looks to tie the NCAA record held by
Nebraska for 90 consecutive matches won
at home.
Seniors Blair Brown and Arielle Wilson
said the Lions focus on dominating at Rec
bv. 1, MI
vs. lowa
In this match-up of top-5
teams, the Lions won in four
sets. Nicole Fawcett had 21
kills, which gave her 1,000
for her career.
Dec.tl
44 ,-, -*
• , i .
Pk 4 ~,,,
imiN, 0,
The Lions rallied from an
early 7-1 deficit in the first
set to take the game and
the match - sending them to
the NCAA semifinals.
Saran Finnegan 'Collegian
To e-mail reporter: jrms4ol@psu.edu
By Ryan Loy
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Hernandez wins award
NEW YORK--For once, Felix Hernandez
got all the support he needed for a big win.
The Seattle ace earned the AL Cy Young
Award on Thursday _
despite a modest 13-12
record. His major league-
leading 2.27 ERA and
superior stats put him far ahead of Tampa
Bay's David Price and the Yankees' CC
Sabathia and their impressive win-loss
numbers.
Victimized by the Mariners' poor hitting
all season, Hernandez found ample back
ing with the voters in this pitchers' duel.
They clearly recognized how•little the last—,
place Mariners helped him - in 10 starts,
theyre either shut out or held to one
run.
"This confirms the Cy Young is an award
not only for the pitcher with the most wins,
but the most dominant." a teary-eyed
Hernandez said while celebrating with rel
atives at the family home in Valencia.
Venezuela.
King Felix got 21 of the 28 first-place
votes and 167 points in balloting by the
Baseball Writers' Association of America.
The 24-year-old right-hander led the
league in innings (249 2-3), was second in
strikeouts (232) and held AL opponents to
the lowest batting average (.212).
Price. who went 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA.
was second with four first-place votes and
111 points.
Hall, and they've done just that. Penn State
has won every home match since Sept. 1,
2006, meaning the seni. ,:s have yet to lose a
match at Rec Hall duriilg their careers.
This year's team is only a small part of the
journey to 89 straight wins. Here's a look
back at some of the most notable Rec Hall
matches during the streak.
Rec Hall during a home Penn Stag -
It was standing room only as .5,312 fans packed them
selves into Rec Hall to see the Lions tie the 1990-94 North
Carolina women's soccer tor consecutive victories
with 92 - second among all Nt:AA sports and first for
women's sports.
By Ben Walker
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Accounting
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FRIDAY, Nov. 19, 2010 I 9
1 1 , match
Sabat}:,:. ho was 21-7 with a 3.18 ERA,
drew the her three first-place votes and
finished third at 102.
"I feel like they got it right, - Price said
on a conference call from Nashville, Tenn.
Fciix, I thought he deserved it, even
Wough In didn't have a lot of wins. You
can't really control all that. You cant con
trol the oft•ii-t.' and the hitters and stuff
like that.-
"The n..n;,<<t.. h , ' put up - those were
pretty ridiuui:qi. numbers outside of the
won-loss colunin. - he said.
"I feel as d Felix was on a different team
- if he was on the Yankees or something
like that - he's going to ‘vin quite a few ball
games."
wake„,44,,wins by Hernandez marked the
fewest for a Cy Youngslaar. in a hill sea
son - Tim Lincecurn record last
year with 15 victorieg for Sa ancisco.
Ferwalib, 7.iiela won the NL award
in strihcAlortened 1981 after going 13-7.
His mar;.: of six games over .500 had been
the lowest for any Cv starter until
-ll', n u t only the wins. it's the whole
said.
alter the All-Star break.
IN - teat - et - I to be a long shot lot
fern,
the 0,%,:
Ile V. t, it, on Aug. 15 alter 2.1; starts,
but a debate had already begun to brew
about hip (*:, Youn , 2, candidacy. Many fans
who rel:, mot i._ traditional numbers - win
loss reeord tor pitchers - didn't think he
rated it tin top of the list.
azin
nough about Biology
uring finals week.
,- ; , "e2.ar file photo