The Penn State women's volleyball team has been in this situation before. It's reeling from a tough loss, and it needs a win to get things back on track. Once again, the first team standing in their way will be Northwestern (8-9, 4-6 Big Ten), which it plays tonight at Rec Hall at 7 p.m.
Unlike last season, when they played Northwestern the day after losing to Wisconsin, the No. 13 Nittany Lions (14-4, 7-3) have had a week to get themselves together after Saturday's loss to Michigan. However, there is even more trouble looming tomorrow when No. 5 Wisconsin (16-2, 10-0) comes to Rec Hall for a match at 7 p.m. To come out of the weekend 2-0, the Lions will need to retain focus for both games and play at a level higher than they've played at thus far.
The Lions know they can't sleep on the Wildcats, who at 4-6 in the conference have twice as many Big Ten victories as they did all of last season. However, knowing that and putting that knowledge into action could be two different stories. The Lions knew Michigan was not a team to be toyed with either, and they still turned out a lackluster effort. They did bounce back well after against the Wildcats after losing to Wisconsin earlier in the year, and they will need effort and focus at least as good or better the last meeting.
"It's really important that we come out and play hard," sophomore middle blocker Cara Smith said. "In the loss at Michigan we learned a lot about what we need to improve as far as communication and energy on the court."
The match against Northwestern will feature two of the conference's best middle blockers in Smith and Wildcat sophomore Erika Lange. Lange is first in the conference in blocks with 1.59 per game, followed closely by Smith at 1.44.
The Lions should be able to pass and play defense better than the Wildcats, but Northwestern leads the conference in blocks as a team, and won't easily be dominated at the net.
"We have to play them better than we did the last time," Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose said. "We're definitely going to have some challenges."
The Lions will need to be clicking on all cylinders against Wisconsin (16-2, 10-0) tomorrow, because the Badgers have been doing just that all season. This weekend's road trip to Ohio State tonight and Penn State tomorrow is the biggest roadblock between them and an undefeated regular season.
The Badgers have loads of offensive talent in returning All-Americans Sherisa Livingston and Lizzy Fitzgerald, and outside hitters Erin Byrd and Lisa Zulkowski. They also have tremendous defense and ball control, and improved serving.
"Everything they're doing to be a Final Four team, they're doing," Rose said. "They're being buoyed by their Final Four trip last year. With some teams, when they get to the Final Four, a light goes on, and they immerse themselves in doing everything they can to get back. That's what they've done this season. If we don't beat them I'll root for them to win the rest of their games."
The odds will not be on the Lions side at all, and a victory over the Badgers will require the Lions to execute perfectly in all aspects of the game. However, no one is thinking about handing the Badgers the game.
"We're just going to have to come out, focus, and play how we can," senior outside hitter Katie Schumacher said. "We've got o cut our errors, scrap for the ball, and play tough. It's going to take a great match, but it's still possible for us to win."
