Penn State was able to end the match in three games this time thanks to strong defensive play. In what Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose called his team's best defensive game of the season, the Lions out-blocked the Badgers 11.5 to five and collected 47 digs.
"I thought it was very important [that the defense played well]," senior opposite Erin Iceman said.
"I thought it was a good team effort on defense. Defense wins matches."
Tabitha Eshleman, a junior back row player, spearheaded the defensive game for Penn State. Averaging just 1.2 digs per game entering the match, Eshleman came off the bench to record 10 digs against the Badgers, one short of her career high.
"That was the best match that I've seen 'Tab' play in the three years that she's been here," Rose said.
"That was really one of the keys to tonight's match, is that she dug so many hard-hit balls in the middle-back area of the court."
The defense fueled a well-balanced Penn State offensive attack. The team hit .299 and five players recorded at least six kills. Smith led the Lions with 12 kills and junior outside hitter Ashley Pederson added 10 kills. Penn State had just nine hitting errors in the match.
On the other side of the net, Wisconsin had an uncharacteristically bad performance offensively. The Badgers hit just .099 as a team, breaking the .100 barrier in just the first game of the night.
Wisconsin matched Penn State with 47 kills, but had 33 hitting errors. Lisa Zukowski was the bright spot for the Badgers, collecting 19 kills and hitting .279, both team highs.
"It was important for us to worry about taking care of business on our side of the net and playing good defense," Iceman said.
"If their errors help us out a little bit, then so be it."
This was the final home match of the regular season for Penn State. The Lions hope to play at Rec Hall again this year as the host of the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament.
