No. 3 Penn State women’s volleyball aims to remain unbeaten in Big Ten play against Ohio State and No. 14 Minnesota

In a volleyball conference as tough as the Big Ten, the mindset for coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley and her Penn State Nittany Lions is simple:

“You have to win matches at home and steal on the road.”

While there have been bumps in the road throughout the first six matches of conference play, No. 3 Penn State has weathered each storm and made it to 6-0 thus far, with three wins coming at home and three wins – including both of last weekend’s matches – coming on the road.

This weekend, the Nittany Lions get a chance to test their mettle both at home and away in the span of just three days. Penn State will make the short road trip to take on Ohio State in Columbus on Friday before returning to Rec Hall with another ranked matchup against No. 14 Minnesota on Sunday.

Dating back to non-conference play, the Nittany Lions have won eight straight matches since their only loss to No. 1 Pitt on Sept. 18.

The blue and white have also won 13 straight matches at Rec Hall dating back to last season, a streak that Penn State will look to add to against the Golden Gophers.

But first comes the matchup with the Buckeyes, it will feature two of the Big Ten’s best pin hitters.

Much has been made of Jess Mruzik’s season for Penn State thus far, and for good reason. The graduate outside hitter still sits second in the conference in kills/set (4.55).

However, the only player ahead of her is Ohio State’s Emily Londot, who paces the Big Ten with a mark of 4.65 kills/set. Last weekend, the graduate hitter reached 2,000 kills for her career.

What might be most scary for opposing teams is that she can stuff the stat sheet in other ways, as well. Londot has 63 total blocks this season – good for just over a block per set. Additionally, she contributes heavily in the passing game, averaging 2.55 digs/set.

“I think she’s one of the best players in the league,” coach Schumacher-Cawley said at media availability on Tuesday. “She puts a lot on her back to find ways to score… and I think she competes hard.”

Expect No. 22 in scarlet and gray to be set early and often throughout the match, and Penn State’s blocking game and passing will need to be on point to slow Londot down.

Turning to Sunday’s “Dig Pink” match against No. 14 Minnesota, that contest will feature a matchup of youth versus experience at the setter position.

Penn State setter Izzy Starck has continued to rack up Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards, as she received the honor for the fourth time on Monday. Starck averaged 12.14 assists/set and 2.71 digs/set across last weekend’s two matches.

With the regular season just past the halfway point, Starck has already become the first Nittany Lion since Deja McClendon in 2010 to win Big Ten Freshman of the Week at least four times.

On the other side, redshirt senior setter Melani Shaffmaster quarterbacks the offense for Minnesota. Shaffmaster has started for Minnesota nearly her entire career and was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team last season. Shaffmaster has also garnered AVCA All-North Region honors all four years of her career to this point.

The Nittany Lions’ potent attack will have to square off front and center with reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Phoebe Awoleye. The graduate middle blocker tied a Minnesota record with 14 blocks last Saturday against Maryland and accomplished that feat in only three sets.

Penn State is 5-1 against ranked teams this season, but the Nittany Lions will need a top-tier performance to keep their win streak going ahead of next weekend’s California trip.

Kasey Kreider is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email kmk6865@psu.edu.