UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 3 Penn State women’s volleyball looks to keep its undefeated Big Ten record intact as it plays a pair of conference opponents this week. The Nittany Lions will take on Ohio State on Friday at 8 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast live on B1G Network. They return to Happy Valley to host Minnesota at Rec Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m. That match will be streamed on B1G+.

Penn State is 16-1 overall with an eight-game winning streak and tied with Nebraska atop the Big Ten standings at 6-0. Behind the leaders in the 18-team conference, Oregon and Wisconsin sit at 5-1.

PROMOS/THEME SUNDAY VS. MINNESOTA
• Dig Pink (fans are encouraged to wear pink)
• Alumni Day
• NCAA Championship teams from 1999, 2009 and 2014 will be honored

HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday, October 18 – 8:00 PM ET
#3 Penn State (16-1, 6-0 B1G) at Ohio State (8-8, 1-5 B1G) | Live Stats | B1G network

Sunday, October 20 – 2:00 PM ET
#14 Minnesota (11-5, 4-2 B1G) and #3 Penn State (16-1, 6-0 B1G) | Live Stats | B1G+

OPENING NOTES
• The Nittany Lions enter this weekend on a 12-game Big Ten regular-season winning streak. Their last regular season loss in conference play came to Purdue on November 5, 2023. It is the longest active streak of any Big Ten team.
• Penn State also has a 13-game home winning streak entering Sunday’s game against the Gophers. The Nittany Lions’ last home loss was also against Purdue on November 5, 2023.

SERIES HISTORY – OHIO STATE
• Penn State is 53-21 in the all-time series with Ohio State. The teams first played in 1981.
• The Nittany Lions won both matches last season, defeating the Buckeyes in five sets at Rec Hall and with a sweep at the Covelli Center.
• Penn State is 23-3 against Ohio State in road games.
• Jess Mruzik has averaged 4.13 kills and 2.13 digs per set in two career matches against Ohio State as a Nittany Lion. Camryn Hanna has averaged 3.63 kills and 1.13 digs per set in her two matches against the Buckeyes while playing for Penn State.

EXPLORING THE STATE OF OHIO
• Ohio State is 8-8 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten after a 3-1 loss to Michigan.
• Emily Londot ranks first in the Big Ten and eighth nationally in kills/set (4/65) and first in the Big Ten and ninth nationally in points/set (5.48).
• Ohio State was picked ninth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
• The Buckeyes’ biggest win in non-conference play came with a 3-0 score against then-No. 20 Miami at the Covelli Center.

HISTORY SERIES – MINNESOTA
• Penn State is 51-15 in the all-time series with Minnesota. The teams first played in 1983.
• The Nittany Lions have won three of the past four games in the series, including a 3-1 victory against the 13th-ranked Gophers last season at Maturi Pavilion. Taylor Trammell hit .800 with 16 kills in that win. Jess Mruzik hit .381 with 21 kills and 15 digs.
• Penn State is 27-5 against Minnesota in Rec Hall.
• Taylor Trammell has hit .556 while averaging 2.07 kills/set in four career matches against the Gophers.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
• Minnesota is ranked 14th in the country and is 11-5 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten after consecutive 3-0 wins over Indiana and Maryland.
• The Gophers’ highest win in non-conference play came by a 3-2 score against then-No. 1 Texas in Milwaukee.
• Minnesota ranked fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Senior setter Melani Shaffmaster was named Preseason All-Big Ten. She is a two-time career All-Big Ten selection.

REGION TO LOOK
Ava Falduto
· 5 consecutive games with an ace

Gillian Grimes
· 5 consecutive matches with double figures

Jess Mruzik
· 8 consecutive matches with double-digit kills

Team
· 13 consecutive Rec Hall wins
· 12 straight Big Ten regular season wins

MILESTONES
• Jess Mruzik recorded her thousandth career kill during the first set of a 3-0 home win over Colgate on September 2, 2023. She recorded her 1,000th career dip in the second set of a 3-1 victory in Indiana on October 13, 2024. She enters the weekend with 1,706 career kills, 1,003 digs and 92 aces.
• Camryn Hanna recorded her 1,000th career kill during the first set of a 3-0 home win over UMBC on September 15, 2023. She enters the weekend with 1,487 career kills.
• Taylor Trammell recorded her 500th career block in a home win over Maryland on October 3, 2024. enters the weekend with 511 career blocks.

REC HALL SUCCESS
• Penn State is 718-55 (.929) all-time in Rec Hall.
• The Nittany Lions are 340-38 (.900) against current Big Ten opponents in Rec Hall and 378-17 (.957) against non-conference opponents.
• Penn State is 9-0 in Rec Hall this season.

KEEP THEM UNDER .200
• Penn State has held 14 of its 17 opponents under .200 this season. That includes all five wins over nationally ranked opponents.
• The Nittany Lions’ five wins over nationally ranked opponents — No. 4 Louisville, No. 9 Kentucky, No. 10 Purdue, No. 11 Oregon and No. 15 Tennessee — the teams combined for a .144 average.

NEXT
• No. 3 Penn State flies across the country for a pair of games against new members of the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions play at UCLA on Thursday at 9:00 PM ET and then play at No. 16 USC on Saturday at 11:00 PM ET. Both matches will be broadcast on B1G Network.