Topics

More

Penn State Women’s Volleyball Racks Up Preseason Praise

Although the Nittany Lions don’t take the court for a few more days, they’re already garnering big-time attention ahead of their upcoming season.

Three Penn State women’s volleyball stars — Jonni Parker, Kaitlyn Hord, and transfer Erika Pritchard — earned preseason All-Big Ten nominations this week, joining the top athletes in the conference.

Parker and Hord, who enter their senior seasons this fall, are certainly no stranger to conference-wide accolades. Hord’s already earned All-Big Ten honors three times in her career, while Parker burst onto the scene as Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2018.

Pritchard will get to work with Penn State following four seasons at Maryland. Today, she stands as the Big Ten’s active kills leader with 1,526 under her belt. Pritchard has also racked up 859 digs and 239 total blocks in her four-year career so far.

On top of some all-conference honors, Penn State landed at No. 3 in the Big Ten’s preseason coaches poll. Only Wisconsin and Nebraska, the league’s tried-and-true powerhouses, sit in front of the Nittany Lions to begin the season.

Last week, Penn State earned a No. 12 preseason ranking in the latestย AVCA Division I Coaches Poll.

Russ Roseโ€™s squad is joined by a number of Big Ten representatives in the poll, including Wisconsin (No. 1), Nebraska (No. 5), Minnesota (No. 7), Purdue (No. 8), and Ohio State (No. 11). Kentucky, Division Iโ€™s most recent champion, landed at No. 3.

Penn Stateโ€™s season begins with a road trip to Florida for the UCF Tournament. The Nittany Lions face Georgia Tech and Saint Johnโ€™s on Friday, August 27, to kick off their season. Nine of the Nittany Lionsโ€™ upcoming matchesย will air on national TV.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Matt DiSanto

Matt proudly served as Onward Stateโ€™s managing editor for two years until graduating from Penn State in May 2022. Now, heโ€™s off in the real world doing real things. Send him an email ([email protected]) or follow him on Twitter (@mattdisanto_) to stay in touch.

Staff Predictions: No. 4 Penn State vs. Minnesota

The last time Penn State visited Minnesota was in 2019 when the No. 17 Golden Gophers upset the No. 4 Nittany Lions 31-26.

No. 22 Penn State Women’s Soccer Defeats No. 7 TCU In NCAA Tournament Round Of 32

Kaitlyn MacBean’s goal in the 46th minute proved the difference.

[Photo Story] Lighting Up Downtown State College

Happy Holidays, folks!

113kFollowers
164kFollowers
62.7kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Sign up for our Newsletter