Volleyball vs. Penn State Gameday Blog

MADISON, Wis. -- Please join Diane Nordstrom of the Wisconsin Athletic Communications office as she chronicles the Badgers' (11-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) match vs. No. 2 Penn State (10-2, 0-1) live with the Gameday Blog. Both teams are looking for their first Big Ten win as Wisconsin lost to Ohio State in five sets on Friday and the Nittany Lions lost a five setter at Illinois on Friday.

The blog is interactive, so be sure to chime in with comments and questions and vote in the polls. The live blog will start at 12:30 p.m. (CT).

Today's match airs later on the Big Ten Network at 8 p.m. You can also listen to the match in the Madison area on The Mic 92.1 (WXXM-FM) with Jon Arias or follow the live stats through Gametracker.

 Volleyball vs. Penn State Gameday Blog(09/26/2010) 
12:45
Welcome to the Wisconsin Field House where the Badgers (11-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) host No. 2 Penn State (10-2, 0-1) in the second Big Ten Conference match of the season.
Sunday September 26, 2010 12:45 
12:49
Both teams lost their Big Ten opening matches on Friday. Wisconsin dropped a 3-2 match to Ohio State while Penn State lost a five setter at No. 9 Illinois.
Sunday September 26, 2010 12:49 
12:50
The Nittany Lion loss ended a streak of 65-straight Big Ten matches that they had won. Illinois, Michigan and Northwestern currently sit atop the conference standings at 2-0.
Sunday September 26, 2010 12:50 
12:53
Wisconsin dropped a heartbreaker to Ohio State in front of a 4,049 fans in the Field House on Friday. After losing the first set, the Badgers won the second set before falling in the third 25-23. Wisconsin came back to take the fourth set 25-23 and force a fifth set. UW was leading in the fifth set 10-9 when the Buckeyes went on a 5-0 run to take a 14-10 lead. OSU went on to win the fifth set 15-11.
Sunday September 26, 2010 12:53 
12:54
Penn State also lost a heartbreaker at Illinois. The Nittany Lions won the first set 25-17 but lost the second (14-25) and third sets (19-25). PSU rallied to take the fourth set 25-14 but lost the fifth set 17-15.
Sunday September 26, 2010 12:54 
12:56
Senior Blair Brown leads the Lions with 3.51 kills per set while freshman Deja McClendon adds 3.32 kills per set. Penn State is one of the top blocking teams in the league, averaging 3.17 blocks per set. Senior Fatima Balza leads the team with 1.33 blocks per set while senior Arielle Wilson adds 1.31 blocks per set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 12:56 
12:59
Wisconsin is led by freshman Elise Walch with 3.23 kills per set. Senior Allison Wack, who tied her career high with 20 kills vs. Ohio State, adds 3.13 kills per set. Wack also leads the team with 0.53 aces per set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 12:59 
1:01
Penn State leads the all-time series 35-6, including a 14-5 advantage in Madison. The Badgers have not won in Madison since 2006.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:01 
1:01
Time for the National Anthem.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:01 
1:04
Penn State starts Fatima Balza, Kristin Carpenter, Arielle Wilson, Blair Brown, Cathy Quilico, Deja McClendon and Alyssa D'Errico at libero.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:04 
1:04
Wisconsin sends out Janelle Gabrielsen, Elise Walch, Alexis Mitchell, Allison Wack, Julie Mikaelsen, Dominique Thompson
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:04 
1:04
And at libero Kim Kuzma.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:04 
1:06
We've got a great crowd today since its team and club day. Almost the entire lower levels are full which should be around 5,000-6,000 people today. We will also recognize the 2000 Big Ten championship and NCAA runner-up team between the second and third sets.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:06 
1:06
Penn State will start serving with Brown back at the line.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:06 
1:07
Allison Wack goes just long on the back-row attack so Penn State scores first.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:07 
1:08
McClendon gets a kill to put Penn State up 2-0.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:08 
1:08
Balza tips to the corner to put the Lions up 3-0.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:08 
1:09
Blair goes wide on her back-row attack and the Badgers are on the board. 3-1.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:09 
1:09
ACE for Nellie! 3-2.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:09 
1:09
Block solo for Elise! Nice stuff of Balza. Freshman vs. senior. 3-3.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:09 
1:10
McClendon off the block and out of bounds. 4-3 PSU>
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:10 
1:10
Long on the serve by D'Errico. Hickey in to serve.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:10 
1:10
Net serve by Hickey and Penn State leads 5-4 in the first set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:10 
1:11
Alexis shows them how its down. She hammered that ball down and we're tied at 5-5.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:11 
1:11
Wilson converts on the slide. 6-5 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:11 
1:12
Brown has a nice swing on the right side for the kill. Penn State leads 7-5.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:12 
1:13
Wilson shows why she's an All-American with that quick set in the middle. PSU leads 8-5. Make that 8-6 as the Lions are called for the blocking error.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:13 
1:13
We have blood on the court so the athletic trainer has to clean it up.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:13 
1:14
The refs are conversing - not sure what the question is but the PSU captain talked to the up official while the floor was being wiped up.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:14 
1:14
[Comment From AmandaAmanda: ] 
Go Kristy!!!
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:14 Amanda
1:15
Kristy is redshirting this season so we won't see her play today.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:15 
1:15
Finally back to the action!
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:15 
1:15
Nittany Lions hit it into the net. 8-7 Penn State.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:15 
1:15
Wilson hits it long cross court and we're tied at 8-8.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:15 
1:16
Another All-American middle in Blair Brown. That ball was straight down.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:16 
1:16
Wack tips it down for the kill. Tied at 9-9. OUr fifth tie of the set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:16 
1:17
Way too early on the block and Blair hammers it down again. Penn State leads 10-9.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:17 
1:17
Lions take advantage of the overpass and lead 11-9.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:17 
1:18
Miscommunication between Gabrielsen and Walch and the freshman hits it out of bounds. 12-9 Penn State.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:18 
1:18
Wack attack out of the back row. 12-10 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:18 
1:18
McClendon off the block and out of bounds. 13-10 Lions.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:18 
1:19
Elise with a big thwack! 13-11 Penn State.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:19 
1:19
Penn State gets its first block. 14-11 Lions.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:19 
1:20
Walch hammers on the right side. She has two big kills so far. 14-12 in the first set with Penn State leads.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:20 
1:21
What a rally and the Badgers win it! A great applause from the crowd too. 14-13.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:21 
1:23
A big block by Penn State, they go up 16-13
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:23 
1:24
Another block by the Lions and the lead 17-13, their largest lead of the set. Wisconsin calls its first timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:24 
1:25
[Comment From SamSam: ] 
Is Bucky out there rooting them on?!
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:25 Sam
1:25
I'm sure he's somewhere but I haven't seen him yet. We have a rather weak turnout by the band too. Only about 10 members.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:25 
1:26
Setter tip by the Lions and they lead 18-13.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:26 
1:26
Another middle attack by the Lions that converts. Wisconsin can't anything going on offense right now.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:26 
1:27
The Lions are on a 6-0 run after the UW hits the ball out of bounds. Penn state leads 20-13 and Wisconsin takes it second timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:27 
1:28
Wisconsin is hitting just .030 (7-6-33) while Penn State is hitting .290 (13-4-31). The Lions also have three blocks compared to one for UW.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:28 
1:30
Wisconsin still struggling. Mary Ording checked in for Julie and Bailey Reshel checked in for Wack. Reshel gets a kill and its now 21-14 Lions.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:30 
1:30
Lions get the kill and lead 22-14.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:30 
1:30
Dominique converts on the shoot set to make it 22-15. Lindsey Seil in to serve for Ording.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:30 
1:31
Seil's serve is really short to make it 23-15 Lions.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:31 
1:31
Badgers called for the blocking error and Penn State has set point at 24-15.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:31 
1:32
Hickey hits into the net on the back row and Penn State wins the first set 25-15.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:32 
1:33
The Badgers hit just .047 (9-7-43) for that set while Penn State hit .308 (16-4-39). After playing well early, the UW struggled especially on offense in transition.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:33 
1:36
Wack has three kills and three errors. Walch and Thompson both have two kills.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:36 
1:36
Looked like the Badgers had the block but then Gabrielsen gets stuffed. Penn State leads the second set 1-0.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:36 
1:37
Walch goes long on the attack. 2-0 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:37 
1:37
Service ace for the Lions.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:37 
1:37
Another ace for Wilson. Her serve just dropped in. 4-0 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:37 
1:37
Penn state coverts the overpass and takes a 5-0 lead. Wisconsin takes its first timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:37 
1:38
[Comment From Kevin FKevin F: ] 
Penn State playing any freshmen besides Deja?
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:38 Kevin F
1:39
No, Deja is the only freshman on the court. The Lions have four seniors that started. One junior and one sophomore also play.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:39 
1:40
Brown goes down the line for the score and Penn State leads 6-0. Wisconsin finally gets on the board as the Lions serve out of bounds. 6-1.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:40 
1:40
Kabbes scores on the right side for the Lions and they lead 7-1.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:40 
1:40
McClendon scores again to make it 8-1.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:40 
1:41
Wisconsin finally gets a kill to make it 8-2.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:41 
1:41
Brown again on the right side. She'll go back to serve. 9-2 Lions.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:41 
1:41
Alexis mishits the ball and it goes out of bounds 10-2.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:41 
1:42
Net serve for the Lions. 10-3.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:42 
1:42
Balza in the middle off the quick set. 11-3 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:42 
1:43
Alexis with the delayed tip in the middle. 11-4.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:43 
1:43
Penn State can't return the serve. Not sure I would call that an ace but we get the point! 11-5
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:43 
1:44
Wack off the block and out of bounds to the opposite side of the court. 11-6.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:44 
1:44
Wilson's kill in the middle ends a 3-0 run by the Badgers. 12-6.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:44 
1:44
Wack takes the first ball off the block and hits it deep for the kill. 12-7.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:44 
1:45
Kabbes scores on the left. 13-7. But Thompson scores on the slide and we're at 13-8 in the second set with PSU leading.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:45 
1:46
Kabbes scores again on the left. She has four kills and puts Penn Stat eup 14-8.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:46 
1:46
Nellie stuffs it through two blockers to make it 14-9. Badgers can't seem to closer than five.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:46 
1:47
Brown goes wide cross court and we're finally closer! 14-10.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:47 
1:47
Badger Block! Walch and Mitchell get the stuff. Penn State calls its first timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:47 
1:48
14-11 Penn State in the second set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:48 
1:48
Wisconsin is hitting better this set .190 (7-3-21) but Penn State is also hitting better .368 (9-2-19).
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:48 
1:49
[Comment From MattMatt: ] 
What are your thoughts on Kristin Carpenter as a setter?
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:49 Matt
1:49
She is very athletic and is getting to a lot of balls. The Lions are not passing as well as they have in years past and Carpenter still has some big hitters to go to.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:49 
1:50
Another nice rally but this time the Lions win it. 15-11 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:50 
1:50
Balza called for the net violation on the attack. 15-12.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:50 
1:51
Brown has been pretty unstoppable on the right side. She has seven kill and is hitting .333.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:51 
1:51
Walch hammers it down the line on the right side. 17-13 Penn State in the second set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:51 
1:52
McClendon off the block and out of bounds. 18-13.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:52 
1:52
Mitchell goes wide on the middle attack and Wisconsin uses its second timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:52 
1:53
Kuzma leads all players with 10 digs - her 17th straight match with 10-or-more digs.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:53 
1:54
Wack goes down the line and gets her sixth kill. 19-14 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:54 
1:54
Wilson scores in the middle. You can see why she and Brown are All-Americans!
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:54 
1:54
Wack goes off the block and out of bounds. 20-15.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:54 
1:55
Service ace for Julie! 20-16.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:55 
1:55
Brown out of the back row and the she and Wilson combine for the PSU bloc, 22-16 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:55 
1:56
Overpass and PSU converts. 23-16 in the second set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:56 
1:56
Wilson gives Penn State set point at 24-16.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:56 
1:56
Reshel checks back in for Wack.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:56 
1:57
Badger Block! Thompson and Gabrielsen get the Lions. 24-17.
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:57 
1:59
Kill by Kabbes to end the set, 25-17
Sunday September 26, 2010 1:59 
2:02
The Wisconsin 2000 volleyball team is being honored before the 3rd set gets underway. The 2000 squad finished their season with a 33-4 record and 18-2 in Big Ten Conference play. They earned the title of Big Ten Champs and made it to the NCAA Championship Match.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:02 
2:03
[Comment From VballFanVballFan: ] 
What is the crowd like?
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:03 VballFan
2:04
There's a great crowd out here today, around 5,500 or so. With it being team and club day, they've been really getting into the match.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:04 
2:09
In case people are interested, the following former Badgers were back for the 2000 reunion today. Meggan Kohnen, Lisa Zukowski, Morgan Shields, Jill Maier, Claudia Rodriquez, Angie Sanger, Marie Meyer, Jamie Gardner and Sara Urbanek,
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:09 
2:10
Time for the start of the set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:10 
2:11
Wisconsin gets on the board first as Walch gets the kill.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:11 
2:11
Lions get another block - their sixth of the match. 1-1.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:11 
2:13
Badger Block! Mitchell and and Gabrielsen get the stuff. Wack gets the kill on the roll shot. 3-1 Badgers.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:13 
2:13
Ball-handling error on the Lions. 4-1.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:13 
2:14
Lions get a kill on the overpass. 4-2.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:14 
2:14
Alexis gets the kill in the middle. 5-2 Badgers.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:14 
2:14
Another kill from Brown. Her 10th. Wisconsin hits out of bounds. 5-4 UW.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:14 
2:15
Dominique gets the kill in the middle - her fifth. Wisconsin leads 6-4 in the third set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:15 
2:16
Dom gets the kill on the overpass then the Badgers have a net serve. 7-5.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:16 
2:16
D'Errico gets the ace for the Lions. 7-6.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:16 
2:17
Another overpass by the Badgers and we're tied in the third set at 7-7.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:17 
2:17
Wack made something out of bad set. 8-7 Wisconsin.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:17 
2:17
McClendon with the kill - her eighth. 8-8.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:17 
2:18
Elise with another kill on a tight set. 9-8.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:18 
2:18
Elise gets another one down the line. Wisconsin leads 10-8.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:18 
2:19
Another play on why Wilson is an All-American. 10-9.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:19 
2:19
Kabbes goes long. We haven't seen too many of those today. 11-9 UW.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:19 
2:20
Tied at 11-11. make that 12-11 Penn state as Gabrielsen and Mitchell can't connect.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:20 
2:20
Elise hammers through the block. 12-12 in the third set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:20 
2:22
Brown throws to the middle and then converts the overpass. Julie gets a kill to make it 14-13. Lions score off the block and we're at 15-13 with our first media timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:22 
2:24
Badgers are hitting just .137 (29-15-112) while Penn State is at .351 (44-10-97)
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:24 
2:24
Another Lion block. 16-13 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:24 
2:25
McClendon gets the kill after a long rally. 17-13 and Wisconsin takes it first timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:25 
2:26
Wack goes off the block and it barely lands out of bounds. 17-14 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:26 
2:27
Badgers with another blocking error. 18-14.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:27 
2:27
Sharp cross court by McClendon. Penn state leads 19-14.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:27 
2:28
Reshel checks in for Wack at 19-15.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:28 
2:28
Another sharp crosscourt at 20-15.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:28 
2:28
Dominique gets the kill on the slide. 20-16.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:28 
2:29
Net serve by the Badgers and service ace by the Lions. 22-16.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:29 
2:29
Another net serve by Penn State and we're at 22-17.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:29 
2:30
Alexis gets an ugly kill but it counts. 22-18.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:30 
2:31
Badgers score again to make it 22-19 and Penn State uses its first timeout.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:31 
2:32
Alexis gets the kill in the middle! 22-20 PSU in the third set.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:32 
2:32
Wilson on the slide. 23-20.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:32 
2:33
Wisconsin uses its second timeout. 23-20 in the third set with Penn State leading. The Nittany lions won the first two sets 25-15, 25-17.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:33 
2:34
Walch gets the kill off the PSU block. 23-21 PSU.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:34 
2:35
Brown deep to the corner and Lions have match point.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:35 
2:35
Lions win on another block. 25-21.
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:35 
2:37
Wisconsin will finish off its homestand next week taking on Illinois on Wednesday and Northwestern on Friday here at the Field House
Sunday September 26, 2010 2:37 
2:38