The Penn State women's volleyball team would rather forget the last time it hosted a regional. The Tennessee Volunteers came into Rec Hall in 2005 and stole a victory from the No. 2-seeded Nittany Lions in the regional semifinals.
It is nearly two years later and the Lions have yet to lose again at Rec Hall, having reeled off 35 straight victories since the defeat to the Volunteers. This year's Lions want to keep that streak alive this weekend with two more victories and a trip to the national semifinals.
The Lions have had the advantage of playing in front of home crowds that ranked fifth in attendance average in the country this season.
"They really just get into a game, and they really want to see you win," Penn State setter Alisha Glass said. "It's more than just your team's energy. They provide a whole wave of energy that you can't create on your own."
If the Lions continue to advance, they will rely heavily on a boisterous home crowd. However, during the NCAA tournament, Penn State students no longer get free admission into the team's matches, a group that is critical to creating a lively crowd. The NCAA charges $7 for students to attend a single session, or $10 to attend Friday and Saturday night matches.
If students can't afford to pay to get into the matches, Penn State coach Russ Rose said that, like in past years, all it takes is a little creativity to get into Rec Hall and see the matches.
"If you can't sneak into Rec Hall you're not a true Penn Stater," he said. "You know how to get into Rec Hall long before you know the alma mater song."
The Lions know exactly what it is like to be a visiting team playing on the home court of the regional host. In the regional finals last season, the Lions played in front of a rowdy crowd in Washington that affected the team's play.
The players are hoping Penn State fans will create a hostile environment this weekend like the one they faced against Washington and like the crowds they regularly deal with when they travel in the Big Ten.
"It's always tough when you have people screaming at you and yelling, and doing anything they can do to distract you in a match," Penn State outside hitter Megan Hodge said. "It just makes it a little tougher."
Rose was impressed with the crowds the last time the Lions hosted a regional in 2005, and he expects similar crowds this weekend.
This will be the fifth time the Lions will play in a regional on their home court since the Bryce Jordan Center opened in 1995, which allowed the volleyball team to host regionals. Three out of the four times Rec Hall has held a regional the Lions have advanced to the national semifinals.
Penn State's willingness to put in a bid for regionals and to serve as the host for one of college volleyball's biggest stages makes Rose proud to work for the university.
"That's why working here is a great bonus for the people that are coaches at Penn State because Penn State likes to host [regionals]," he said. "I know that it is a demand on the administrators and the various facility people, but that's what universities should do to support their programs, teams and players."
