No. 13 Penn State women’s volleyball takes on No. 3 Kentucky on Sunday. This will be the first true test for the Nittany Lions who haven’t played against serious competition, excluding their exhibition game with No. 8 SMU (No. 11 at the time).
That game vs. the Mustangs in Spikes Under the Lights wasn’t a horror story despite Penn State getting swept. There were some bright spots, particularly on offense as transfer setter Alexis Stucky builds chemistry with her attackers. Outside hitters Whitney Lauenstein and Haley Burgdorf, opposite hitter Kennedy Martin, and middle blockers Ryla Jones and Gabrielle Nichols have stuck out in the first four matches. Lauenstein, especially, has proven herself useful on the court at the net and off the court as a leader.
What didn’t stand out positively was defense. That’s to be expected as libero Ava Falduto slides into what used to be Gillian Grimes’ role. Grimes was an elite defender, totaling 1,636 digs and 125 aces over her four-year career…