Badgers swept away by Nittany Lions
November 22, 2008 | Volleyball
Top-ranked Penn State was too much for the Wisconsin volleyball team as the undefeated Nittany Lions swept the Badgers Saturday night. PSU, which clinched the 2008 Big Ten Conference title on Friday night, won its 30th match of the season 25-21, 25-13, 25-17 over Wisconsin in front of 3,012 fans in Rec Hall.
Wisconsin falls to seventh place in the Big Ten at 7-11 (17-13 overall) as Indiana downed Northwestern in four sets to take over sole possession of sixth place.
The Nittany Lions had three players in double-digit kills as they dominated the match. PSU had 45 kills and hit .440 for the night while UW totaled 32 kills while hitting .105. Megan Hodge led all hitters with 16 kills for Penn State while Arielle Wilson and Nicole Fawcett added 11 and 10 kills, respectively. The Badgers, who played without Brittney Dolgner, were led by Caity DuPont with eight kills while Katherine Dykstra, Audra Jeffers and Elle Ohlander all put down six kills.
Penn State also out-blocked Wisconsin 11-3, led by Christa Harmotto with eight stuffs. Jeffers had two of the UW's blocks.
PSU finished with 35 digs on the night with Hodge leading all players with nine. The Badgers recorded 29 saves with Kim Kuzma and Nikki Klingsporn both digging eight.
Faye McCormack and Kuzma had service aces for Wisconsin while the Nittany Lions had three service aces.
The Badgers jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set as Dykstra had three early kills. Wisconsin led 9-5 off two kills from Caity DuPont before the Nittany Lions rallied, scoring five straight to take a 10-9 lead. Penn State recorded two of its four blocks in the set to lead the comeback. UW stayed close through 12-12 before PSU went on a 4-1 run to go up 16-13. The Badgers pulled within three several times, including at 23-20 but the Nittany Lions went on a 2-1 run for the first set win.
Penn State used its momentum from the first set to win the second frame easily. The Nittany Lions broke a 5-5 tie, scoring three straight including two off blocks to take an 8-5 lead. Wisconsin pulled within one (8-7) off a Penn State hitting error but Hodge took over for the Nittany Lions, totaling six kills in the set for the win.
Wisconsin battled back in the third set, staying within three points for most of the period. The Badgers pulled within one (13-12) off a Kuzma service ace but Hodge scored two straight kills to put the Nittany Lions up 17-14. UW edged closer at 20-16 but Fawcett had three kills, including the match winner for the 30th sweep of the season for Penn State.
The Badgers wrap up the regular season next weekend, hosting 16th-ranked Illinois and 18th-ranked Purdue on Friday and Saturday at the UW Field House. The field for the 2008 NCAA tournament will be announced on Nov. 30.
