For the first time in the 2016 women’s volleyball season, Penn State has garnered first place votes in the latest NCAA rankings.
Clocking in at No. 9 with one first-place vote, Penn State rode the momentum of the win over top-ranked Minnesota to spark another perfect week, clinching straight-set victories over Purdue and Indiana. The Lions were to host Ohio State on Oct. 19, after Gazette press time.
The Nittany Lions remained unbeaten in Big Ten play and had pushed their season record to 19-3 as of this writing. Their individual set win-loss record stands at an amazing 52-12, an 81.3 percent rating.
Efficiency has emerged as the impetus behind the Lions’ charge. Their .314 hitting percentage ranks second in the nation. Their defensive hitting percentage ranks first in the NCAA at .110, 19 points ahead of second-place Towson.
Junior Haleigh Washington ranks second in the NCAA in hitting percentage, with a blistering .467 clip.
After finding their way early in the season, coach Russ Rose’s team has solidified, leaning on the upper classmen leadership. Rose has preached efficiency at times this year, and the results speak for themselves.
It is easy to focus on the middle blockers and outside hitters, but often a successful kill starts with a tremendous dig. And freshman Kendall White has played beyond her years in that regard.
After taking control of the team’s ultra-important libero position earlier in the year, White has responded in kind. In the win over Indiana, White notched nine digs, bringing her season-average up to 3.69 per set. That figure is the highest on the team as of this writing.
It is often a thankless job. It is always one that plays second fiddle for fans and observers alike. But if you watch the game closely, you will soon relish a fantastic dig just as much as you would a strong kill.
After a dig comes the set. And the Nittany Lions have a pretty good setter in junior Abby Detering.
Detering currently ranks 44th in the country in assists per set with 10.55. Her 591 total assists blows away the pack, with sophomore Bryana Weiskircher’s 228 the closest.
Detering’s path to Penn State was a winding one. Having transferred from Florida to PSU before the 2015 season, she knew that many see Happy Valley as a volleyball mecca of sorts.
“When you’re younger, all you dream about is this school, and now having the opportunity to play with this team is amazing,” Detering told Onwardstate.com late last year.
Now that she has acclimated herself to Rose’s program and the level of expectation that goes along with it, Detering is contributing in kind. And then some.
