PREVIEW Page 2 | Wednesday, Aug

Vol. 47, No. 29 Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 SPORTSFALL PREVIEW Page 2 | WeDnesDay, aug. 9, 2017 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW The Daily Collegian Marcus Allen brings the hype By Jack R. Hirsh THE DAILY COLLEGIAN PENN STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2017

There are few Penn State Opponent Date Time players more recognizable than Marcus Allen. But perhaps it VS. Akron 9/2 12:00 p.m. ET is Allen’s social FOOTBALL media alter ego, Chico_Hendrxx VS. Pittsburgh 9/9 3:30 p.m. ET that is more popular than the man behind the phone. While the junior safety is one of the best defensive players on VS. Georgia State 9/16 7:30 p.m. ET Penn State’s roster, he also has one of the strongest social media games. @ Iowa 9/23 TBA The only Nittany Lion with more Instagram and Twitter followers than Allen is none other TBA than Heisman trophy candidate, VS. Indiana 9/30 running back Saquon Barkley. Allen has nearly 50,000 Insta- gram followers and over 37,000 @ Northwestern 10/07 12:00 p.m. ET Twitter followers, while Barkley has over 69,00 Instagram followers and over 38,000 Twitter fol- Collegian file photo lowers. Marcus Allen (2) shakes hands with Saquon Barkley (26) after winning VS. Michigan 10/21 TBA When Allen traveled to Chica- go for Big Ten Media Days with the game against Maryland at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. linebacker Jason Cabinda and All of this contributes to the people hype, that rubs off on @ Ohio State 10/28 3:30 p.m. ET tight end Mike Gesicki, Gesicki energy Allen displays both on people and that’s contagious.” joked it was rather exhausting and off the field. Coach James Allen said he doesn’t really do spending that much time with Franklin said that is one Allen’s anything differently to bring @ Michigan State 11/04 TBA Allen. best traits. energy to the team. He just tries “I’ve been with Marcus the “The guy always has a smile to be himself and he doesn’t past 30 hours since we left State on his face,” Franklin said at really mind what other people College, and he has probably Media Days. “He has fun while think of it. VS. Rutgers 11/11 12:00 p.m. ET posted 50 Snapchats,” Gesicki he’s working hard. He’s a guy in “That’s me, that’s my person- said. “Marcus is funny.” the weight room that’s dancing, ality,” Allen said. “I’ve been like Allen’s outgoing personality that’s laughing, but working this since kindergarten. I know @ Rutgers 11/18 TBA defines him as much as his play hard while he’s doing it.” guys who say ‘he may be imma- does, which is pretty outstand- In some of the videos of Bark- ture,’ but that’s my personality.” ing in its own right. Allen led ley power-cleaning 405 pounds His coach sees a player who @ Maryland 11/25 TBA the team in tackles last year earlier this summer, Allen seem can turn his intensity on and off and was named to four pre- more excited than Barkley was when he needs to. season watch lists, including the as he jumped all around the “When he steps on the foot- Chuck Bednarik award, given to running back and was the first ball field, he is as tough and as social media from setting off any ing as he is on Twitter. the nation’s top defensive player. mob Barkley once he dropped physical and as nasty as any- red flags. As for the player who Allen Allen said his extreme pres- the barbell. Allen sees that as body,” Franklin said. “But when “I don’t say anything crazy on thinks fans should give a follow ence on social media is just his part of his role on the team as he steps off the field, he’s a per- social media,” Allen said. “I to the most, the answer may be way of living life and having fun. an “Energizer Bunny” charac- fect gentleman. To me, that’s don’t think having fun is illegal. surprising. He said that since Gesicki ter. what Penn State is all about.” I think it’s just being obnoxious “Josh McPherson,” Allen said. doesn’t really use social media “My role on the team is to get Allen acknowledges there is and ignorant when it crosses “He’s hilarious. He’s definitely that much, especially in com- everybody better, as best I can,” time to focus on business and the line.” one of the funniest guys on our parison to Allen, it’s easy to Allen said “Because when a there is a time to joke around However, he said he isn’t the team.” make Gesicki laugh by putting a teammate lacks energy and you and be himself, but he knows he only social media whiz on the picture of him on Allen’s snap- have that Energizer Bunny run- has to keep his social media team as there are other players To email reporter: [email protected]. chat. ning around, yelling, getting from getting crazy. He keeps his he thinks are just as entertain- Follow him/ on Twitter at @JR_HIRSHey. MY VIEW | ANDREW RUBIN Penn State’s Coaches Things Poll ranking is fair By Andrew Rubin they are probably the biggest out and play the Gators and THE DAILY COLLEGIAN wildcard of the bunch, and the show that this group of players, one that I think is ranked too not the 2016 squad that has 18 A group of 65 college football high. They have a ton of talent of its best players on NFL ros- to watch head coaches, including James by virtue of signing some top-10 ters, show that they are worthy Franklin, put Penn State at No. recruiting classes the last few of a top-10 ranking. Football is beginning, camp ny Lions are finally out of it. 6 in their pre- years, but the Wolverines lost 18 started this week and prepara- Second-year offensive line I mean, even the Gators’ season poll on starters. tion for the most anticipated coach Matt Limegrover has FOOTBALL backup running back, Mark Aug. 3. How an inexperienced team Penn State sea- aided in speeding up the turn- Thompson, had some strong A sensible son since the around. reacts this season is anyone’s words for the Wolverines on FOOTBALL 1990s is ramping With starters Andrew Nelson spot, in the grey area between guess, but if any of the four Twitter before the poll even into high gear. and Brendan Mahon, who both very good and elite. That’s teams were to plummet, I’d say came out. Like any college football suffered season- ending injuries exactly how I’d describe the Jim Harbaugh’s squad is the “The disrespect is crazy . . . I team, the Nittany Lions will in 2016, ready for the start of Nittany Lions right now, and most likely. can’t wait till we beat the brakes have position battles, breakout camp, according to coach it’ll depend on internal devel- I’ve always been in the school off Michigan,” Thompson tweet- players and new wrinkles to look James Franklin, Penn State is opment to determine where of thought that inexperienced ed as it has continuously been for when the season finally kicks going to have real depth on the their ceiling is after the regu- teams need to prove themselves stated all summer that Michi- off in early September. offensive line for the first time lar season kicks off. before they are put in the top- gan is the favorite in the match- The questions may not be as in years. A year ago, talented Joining them in the top-10 10. They shouldn’t be put there up. are fellow Big Ten teams No. 2 based on potential. burning as last year, but freshmen Ryan Bates and For the most part, I agree Ohio State, No. 9 Michigan and After all, the preseason rank- here are some things Connor McGovern with Thompson, the Wolverines to watch out for No. 10 Wisconsin, who is the ings are supposed to grew throughout have a ton of respect they still over the next the season and most likely opponent waiting be just that: a need to earn. If they go out and month. should be effec- for the winner of the Big Ten ranking of tive options this East in the Big Ten Champion- the teams beat up Florida in Dallas, then A sense of year. ship game. as they they will earn everyone’s With The Buckeyes and the Wol- stand respect. normalcy Penn State losing verines are the two teams who To read full stoy, It’s refreshing that for the only center Brian Gaia have best chance of preventing visit collegian.psu.edu. first time since 2011, the Nittany from last year’s group of regu- the Nittany Lions from return- Lions won’t be defined in one lar starters on the offensive ing to the conference title way or another by how they dealt line, this should be a position game in Indianapolis. with sanctions. It’s Penn State’s that takes a big step forward, Before diving into this col- second year back at 85 scholar- which will be a major plus for umn on a preseason poll, rec- ships, and it finally has a normal- the team’s explosive offense. ognize this: preseason polls looking roster distribution. Coverage concerns mean little to nothing in col- There are no longer scholarship lege football and top-25 polls reductions that caused depth With Penn State’s No. 1 cor- nerback, John Reid, suffering a will be basically unrecogniz- problems. Penn State can sign a able to their preseason ver- normal allotment of 25 players torn ACL in the spring and likely missing the duration of the sions by the middle of October. each year. The team is no longer College football is more diffi- looking for a breakthrough win season, the Nittany Lions are cult to predict than most after winning the Big Ten Cham- going to have to reach a little sports. That being said, we are pionship a year ago. deeper on their depth chart than they otherwise would going to take a shot at break- This is a football team that have. ing down the coaches poll from has talent and experience, it Luckily for defensive coordi- a Big Ten perspective. finally seems like the on-field nator Brent Pry, that is one of Those four happened to be effects of the sanctions are all the deepest positons on the the only Big Ten teams in the but in the program’s rear view team. Christian Campbell, top-25, demonstrating the mirror. Grant Haley and Amani Oru- strong top and weak middle, Moorblocks wariye all played a lot last year, which has become a feature of and for the most part, played the Big Ten for a variety of in the The group hardest hit by the well. reasons. preseason. They sanctions was the offensive line. Five-star prospect Lamont Breaking this down team by aren’t meant to pre- It was an area Bill O’Brien, who Wade enrolled early and in the team, I think the Buckeyes dict where teams will coached the Nittany Lions in spring looked like a sure fire finish the season. 2012 and 2013, decided should have all the potential to be a bet to make a difference at There are several take up a significantly less national title winning team, nickel, so it’ll be interesting to assuming they get the internal teams sitting in the amount of scholarships than a track his development through normal college football roster. development they need to cluster from 11-20 camp and into the season. replace some key pieces after that have more There were pluses and minus- Penn State is also going to being so young top-to-bottom key pieces return- es to that decision. The plus, have to find a safety to replace Penn State kept a pretty good in 2016. ing than Michigan Malik Golden and start next to does and are bet- collection of skill players Marcus Allen. Penn State is right there too. through the sanction years. The Not as much overall talent ter known commod- minus, there weren’t many play- Godwin is gone as Ohio State, but a few more ities, including the ers to block for them. Unfortunately for offensive known commodities and the four SEC teams sit- With offensive linemen being coordinator Joe Moorhead, it almost unanimous best player ting between 12 and among the slowest-developing just happened to be one of the in the conference in Saquon 16. players in college football, it was best wide receivers in college Barkley, who could push the And lucky for the Wol- going to take several years to football, Chris Godwin. Nits to a playoff spot. verines, they get to play get out of that hole. Heading To read full story, visit Michigan has lost so many one of those teams, No. 16 into 2017, it looks like the Nitta- collegian.psu.edu. players from a year ago that Florida, in Week 1. Let them go The Weekly Collegian FALL SPORTS PREVIEW WeDnesDay, aug. 9, 2017 | Page 3

MY VIEW | KARA DURIEZ Men’s hockey has what it takes

After taking the college hock- which they advanced to the at NHL development camps. ey world by storm in last year’s quarterfinals, just one win shy The postseason maturity the PENN STATE MEN’S HOCKEY record-breaking season, Penn of reaching the Frozen Four. team lacked last season isn’t State is back and It’s also worth mentioning the going to be a problem anymore, they — should — Nittany Lions’ 6-3 loss in the and that’s arguably the most KEY SERIES* SCHEDULE 2017/18 be better than NCAA quarterfinals was to Den- encouraging thing for Godowsky ever. ver — a college hockey power- when forming lines in October. But how are house and the eventual tourna- If you’re still not convinced Opponent Date the Nittany Lions ment champion. about the current roster improv- supposed to top Coming into this season, Gad- ing enough to keep the Nittany the success they owsky’s squad will be at the top Lions in the running, then con- @ Minnesota 10/13,14 had last season? of every other school’s list to sider this season’s incoming In case you beat. The Nittany Lions will freshman class. MEN’S forgot, coach have a lot to live up to in the While it may be a tall order to HOCKEY Guy Gadowsky’s eyes of fans and hockey pundits, top last year’s freshmen and squad broke but they shouldn’t disappoint. their contributions, the six play- many program Although the Nittany Lions ers coming into Hockey Valley VS. Michigan 10/27,28 records during the 2016-17 cam- will be without pivotal leader- this fall have the talent neces- paign. ship from former Captain David sary to make a big impact. The team attained a brief No. Goodwin and forward Ricky Three new faces for the Nitta- 1 ranking on the United DeRosa, the rising senior ny Lions — Alex Limoges, Sam States College Hockey class — consisting of Sternschein and Evan Barratt @ Notre Dame 11/10,11 Online poll, claimed Trevor Hamilton, — will be the forwards Gad- the Big Ten tourna- Erik Autio, Matt Erli- owsky needs to complete his ment title, and chman, and last sea- offense this fall. Rounding out earned a bid into the son’s other alternate the class are Cole Hults, Adam NCAA tour- captain James Rob- Pilewicz and Alex Stevens, who VS. Ohio State 1/12,13 nament inson — will step up will be needed to fill big shoes — in to fill their shoes. on defense. Last season’s Both Barratt and Hults heard gigantic freshmen their name called this past class will also return June, adding to a Nittany Lions’ to Pegula Ice Arena in lineup that’s no stranger to NHL VS. Minnesota 2/23,24 the fall a little bit draftees. older, wiser and more Their addition to the roster experienced — espe- even gives Gadowsky the option *For the full@ schedule, Rutgers including game 11/18times cially considering to ice a line made up of all draft- five of the 11 spent ees, which shows just how much when they’re available, visit gopsusports.com. their summers this class will strengthen the team’s lineup. Gaining all three of the factors a team which Gadowsky called a Last season, it was clear they lacked last year will make “perennial hockey giant” earlier which lines were the top and up for a seemingly unstoppable this year. which were the weakest for the Penn State hockey program this The addition of the Fighting Nittany Lions. It also seemed season and beyond. Irish to the Big Ten will without like as if the top lines began to The only potential obstacle a doubt improve the conference run out of gas toward the end of getting in the way of their now and in the future — but it’s the season. national title run is the difficult definitely going to make the reg- The addition of the tal- schedule to start Big Ten play, ular season more challenging ent-heavy incoming fresh- including traveling to Minnesota for the Nittany Lions. man class can solve this by for their third series of the sea- However, if the team can eliminating deficiencies, son. Michigan will also be a big come into the 2017-18 season as and the Nittany Lions may test — as usual — for Penn strong as it did last year — with end up having more talent State in late October. more confidence and focus to on their roster than they But, quite possibly the biggest overcome new challenges — it’s can handle. challenge for Gadowsky’s squad a good bet that Penn State can will be the trip to South Bend, reach its first Frozen Four in Indiana in early November to program history. face newly-added conference foe Notre To email reporter: [email protected]. Dame, Follow her on Twitter at @KaraDuriez.

MY VIEW | ANDREW RUBIN MY VIEW | KATIE NANASI Blue line will Women’s hockey finally need a reshuffle looking organized There aren’t going to be many questions about Penn State’s If Hults doesn’t After much upheaval during last season, things hasn’t been short on talent, however, as two pro- ability to put the puck into the have finally seemed to settle down for Penn gram alumnae — Laura Bowman (EHV Sabres net as October impress early, it State. Vienna) and Kelly Seward (Buffalo Beauts) — comes into focus. But maybe just for the moment. committed to play on professional teams over the However, with could be Kerr WOMEN’S The women’s ice hockey pro- summer. Vince Pedrie, the HOCKEY gram had an extremely tumultu- Adding new freshman talent, accumulating a Nittany Lions’ who finds himself ous season this past year when it coordinated coaching staff and getting rid of bag- best defenseman came to coaching staff changes. gage from past seasons will certainly do wonders from last season, alongside Autio in Former head coach Josh Brandwene left his to help the Nittany Lions reach their full off playing for the post in January due to family medical potential. Hartford Wolf the top-four. leave, and assistant coach Dean Pack in the AHL, Jackson took over for the duration To email reporter: [email protected]. of the season as interim head Follow her on Twitter at @katienanasi. coach Guy Gad- were often the pair tasked with MEN’S owsky will have coach. HOCKEY being on the ice against the The team finished 9-21-5, a to shuffle some opponent’s top-line. They han- bodies around on severely underwhelming end to dled it well in the closing stretch a season plagued with difficul- the blue line. of the season and it seems Pedrie spent much of his time ties. unlikely that Gadowsky would In the offseason, even more in Hockey Valley in a pair with break that pair up. Finnish defenseman Erik Autio, coaching changes have been Another factor that could made. who returns to the Nittany Lions influence Gadowsky’s decision is for the upcoming season. Jeff Kampersal, who had that Myllari has a booming previously spent 21 years at We know the pairings are slapshot and Hamilton is a going to look a little different in Princeton, was named the decent puck mover — combined, new leader of the program. 2017-18 compared to the end of these things make the pair an 2016-17, with Pedrie gone and At Princeton, Kampersal offensive threat. It also earned was extremely successful, Kevin Kerr — a key piece who them some power play minutes, had his season ended early due having won over 320 con- even though they were mostly tests. to injury — returning to the line- known for their defensive work. up. Kampersal then named Hamilton is also as adept as Celeste Brown, an alumna of So let’s take a stab at who any player in college hockey at Rochester Institute of Tech- they might be and why. dishing out soul crushing — but nology, and Allison Coom- First up is finding Autio a new clean — hip checks that are ey, an alumna of Niagara partner. The most likely candi- rarely executed that well at any University, as assistant date going into the season is level of hockey. coaches, and Chris Demc- Cole Hults, an incoming fresh- This means that, of the zuk was appointed director of man that was selected in the returning defenseman, it’ll prob- operations for the team. fifth round of this year’s NHL ably be Kerr starting the season Brown was previously an assis- Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. out on the third pair — and he tant coach at Connecticut College, Hults has spent the last two may have a rotating cast next to and Coomey held the same posi- seasons playing for the Madison him. tion at Boston University. Capitols of the USHL. Looking at the Nittany Lions’ Many fans and supporters of this If Hults doesn’t impress early, roster, we’ve covered the five program may look at all the changes it could be Kerr who finds him- defensemen who will likely be wearily, but I think that it can and self alongside Autio in the top- lineup fixtures as long as they should be viewed as a clean slate. four. Kerr has demonstrated that are healthy. The team is rid of the weight of Brand- he’s a good puck-moving defen- There are a couple candidates wene’s past abuse allegations, and — seman who has had some prob- to be the sixth — and final — although lems on his own end of the ice. defenseman on the ice each they found His scouting report is similar to night: James Gobetz, David Many fans and slight suc- Autio’s, which is why Hults will Thompson and Derian Hamilton. cess at the probably start out there before All three are candidates to fill supporters of this beginning of Kerr. that sixth-man position, and it’ll Jackson’s After that, Gadowsky will most could be a rotation unless some- program may look term — the likely retain the pairing of Trev- one separates themselves from coaching or Hamilton and Kris Myllari the other two. at all the changes change clear- after they took several strides Then again, I wouldn’t rule ly wasn’t forward together last season and out Hults finding himself on this wearily, but I think enough. The closed on a high note as the pair if he struggles initially at players shutdown pair with a bit of a the college level, which would that it can and lacked the scoring touch. leave Kerr most likely pairing drive it Hamilton was paired with with Autio. should be viewed takes to fin- Kerr before his injury and then ish their jobs Myllari was slid up to that spot. To email reporter: [email protected]. as a clean slate. on the ice. After some initial struggles, they Follow him on Twitter at @andrewrubin24. The team Page 4 | WeDnesDay, aug. 9, 2017 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW The Daily Collegian Men’s soccer excited about youth

By David Eckert will play in important part in re- excited about in addition to [the THE DAILY COLLEGIAN placing the talented trio of 2017 returners],” Warming said. graduates. With a period of less than a Inexperience is a trait often Among the newcomers Warm- week between the beginning of accompanied by uncertainty, but ing expects to play a large role training and Penn State’s first ex- coach Bob Warming views his is Aaron Malloy, a transfer mid- hibition game, the Nittany Lions young squad with fielder from Keiser University, will be hard-pressed to form a MEN’S optimistic eyes cohesive unit by the time the sea- heading into the “We’re going to be son opener rolls around on Aug. SOCCER 2017 season. 25 — especially with so many in- Warming’s Nit- incredibly young. experienced players in the mix. tany Lions have posted a pair of And I’m excited “There’s no sport in the NCAA mediocre seasons on the heels of that does anything like that,” two straight NCAA Tournament about that because Warming said. “So, it really berths. This year, if Penn State I think the guys who comes down to how quickly you hopes to reach the postseason it get everybody on the same page, faces the challenge of replacing are coming back because the quicker everybody the production of three players are very committed gets on the same page, the better who have joined the professional chance you have of having a great ranks. and the guys who end of the season as well. There’s Connor Maloney and Robby are coming in are the cumulative effect of having a Sagel — both All-Big Ten players lot of success playing together in — graduated and were chosen in not only committed, the same style of play for a longer the MLS SuperDraft, along with but they’re very period of time.” Riley Grant, who also inked a pro Winning on the road is some- deal with Seattle Sounders II. talented.” thing else young teams typically “We’ve got a lot of reconstruct- don’t fare well with, but the Nitta- ing to do with the team,” Warming Bob Warming ny Lions can’t be any worse away said. “We’re going to be incred- Head Coach from Jeffery Field than they have ibly young. And I’m excited about been recently. that because I think the guys who Penn State lost all four of its are coming back are very com- which sponsors NAIA athletics. road matchups in Big Ten play mitted and the guys who are com- He also touted forward Ethan and has just one conference road ing in are not only committed, but Beckford and defenseman Cal- win in the last two years. Collegian file photo they’re very talented.” lum Pritchatt as freshmen who Warming hopes a new travel Midfield Austin Maloney (9) gets challenged by Niclas Mohr (5) of JMU Warming offered enthusiastic could make an impact. routine will help his team im- endorsements of several new “I think there’s some good prove its results this season. during the first half of the game at Jeffrey Field on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. members of the program who young players that fans will get “We go on very, very long bus rides, and in Warming sed. “So, we’re going mated and have the guys where our sport, that’s to get out of here a little earlier they really have a chance to challenging,” and get ourselves a little more get their legs underneath them accli- before we play some of these matches.” The Nittany Lions will wel- come Hofstra to Jeffery Field on Aug. 24 for their regular season opener. Their first road game is a week later at the University of California, Irvine.

To email reporter: [email protected]. Follow them on Twitter at @davideckert98.

Briana Basile/Collegian Aymar Sigue (7) dribbles against Pitt’s Curren Page (23) goal during Penn State’s 1-0 victory at Jeffrey Field on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2016. New leaders will have to emerge By Patrick Burns to overtime and drew against gel’s leadership role, but ques- THE DAILY COLLEGIAN both two-time defending national tion marks still surround who champion Stanford and Akron, will replace Maloney’s potency From 2012 to 2014, Penn State the “pro-factory” that has recent- in front of goal and ability to was the team to beat in the Big ly produced American stars like create chances. Ten. DeAndre Yedlin and Darlington Of Penn State’s 22 goals Just three Nagbe. in 2016, only seven of them MEN’S years later, per- No longer with the team, how- were scored by players still haps the big- ever, is former captain and 2014 on this year’s roster. Canada SOCCER gest challenge in Big Ten Offensive Player of the U20 striker Aymar Sigue is coach Bob Warm- Year, Connor Maloney (eight the only returning player who ing’s four decades of coaching goals, five assists in 2016). Ma- scored more than one goal last lies in front of him. loney has graduated and moved season. On August 25th, Warming’s onto Major League Soccer’s Co- Sigue and freshman Ethan team will take on Hofstra at Jef- lumbus Crew SC, leaving behind Beckford, a Toronto FC Academy frey Field without last season’s a massive void in leadership and product, are slated to be the blue captain, leading goal-scorer, as- offensive production. and white’s goal-scoring threats sister and defensive stalwart. Also departed is Robby Sagel and can both play centrally or on After finishing dead last in the (one goal) who played a team- the wing. The Canadian forwards Big Ten in 2015, the Nittany Lions leading 1712 minutes, budding will need good service to put the bounced back in 2016, finishing star forward Dayonn Harris (3 ball in the back of the net, though, with a 4-4-0 conference record, goals, 2 assists), pacey winger which the midfield struggled to good for fifth out of nine teams. Riley Grant (one assist), and mid- provide last season. Penn State also proved that it fielder Mason Klerks (two goals), The Nittany Lions’ creativity is can hang around with the best among others. going to have to come from out teams in the nation. The new captain, rising red- wide. The Nittany Lions took defend- shirt junior defender Dani Marks, To read full story, visit ing Big Ten Champion Maryland will look to fill Maloney and Sa- collegian.psu. Freshmen bolster Lions’ strength

By Thomas Schlarp NCAA tournament this past season, THE DAILY COLLEGIAN freshmen have a history of being large contributors for Dambach. The names of James Franklin, Cael Just this past year, saw two freshman Sanderson and Guy Gadowksy may get garnered national attention for the im- most of the headlines for their impressive pact they made to the Penn State squad. recruiting displays, but Laura Freigang was named to the Top- WOMEN’S coach Erica Dambach isn’t DrawerSoccer and Big Ten All-Freshman SOCCER far behind. teams after playing in 15 games in her in- Penn State’s 2017 re- augural season. cruiting class — which includes Kerry Meanwhile, goalkeeper Amanda Den- Abello, Casey Ballow, Shea Moyer, Frankie nis also received Big Ten All-Freshman Tagliaferri, and Emma Thomson — is honors after starting in all 21 of the Nit- ranked No. 4 in the nation, according to tany Lion’s games in front of the net. TopDrawerSoccer.com. The Class of 2017 is a small but really The quintet will be tasked with filling talented one,” Dambach said to GoPSUS- roles vacated by last year’s two graduat- ports.com. “As a whole this class is posi- ing seniors, Nickolette Driesse, a fourth- tioned to come in and make as big an im- round draft pick by the Orlando Pride of pact as any freshmen class has in my time the National Women’s Soccer League, and here at Penn State.” defender Angela Widlacki. The first of the five to arrive on campus Despite joining a strong program which was early enrollee midfielder Shea Moyer won a national championship two seasons To read full story, visit ago, and reached the second round of the collegian.psu.edu. The Weekly Collegian FALL SPORTS PREVIEW WeDnesDay, aug. 9, 2017 | Page 5 Nittany Lions poised to earn NCAA title

By Stephanie Panny THE DAILY COLLEGIAN

At the end of last year, I said Penn State should not be count- ed out in the 2017-18 season. I still stand by that WOMEN’S opinion and I also think that — VOLLEYBALL unless something changes — this might be the season in which Russ Rose’s squad earns itself another NCAA championship title before having to rebuild. Last season, the Nittany Lions had to go into their season with a challenge: to prove they were better than a No. 9 preseason ranking. Despite winning their first two games, the Nittany Lions pro- ceeded to lose three in a row to North Carolina, Colorado and Stanford. Penn State then went on a nice 15-game win streak — a streak that included a 3-2 upset against then-No. 1 Minnesota in early October — before going 5-6 between Oct. 15 and Nov. 26 (the last day of the regular season). In the NCAA Tournament, the Nittany Lions only won two games (against LIU-Brooklyn and Pittsburgh) before losing 3-2 to Nebraska at Lincoln in the NCAA regionals. Penn State closed out the season with an overall 24-10 record (including post-season play). While its record was impressive, the team relied mainly upon the experienced junior class — outside hitter Simone Lee, middle blocker Haleigh Washington, setter Abby Deter- Collegian file photo ing, and outside hitter Ali Frant- Simone Lee (22) of Penn State smashes the ball during Women’s Volleyball match against West Virginia at Rec Hall on Friday, August 26, 2016. ti — as well as freshmen standouts libero Kendall White and Penn State defeated West Virginia 3-0. middle blocker Tori Gorrell. Lee was an absolute power- the most valuable players on the games in which Lee was out- also adds experience to a gener- Ole Miss player — who was house for the Nittany Lions dur- court in Rec Hall. During the killed, and both times it was by ally inexperienced team. named SEC Player of the Week ing the 2016 season. Oct. 5 game against the then- Washington, who continued to While fans are definitely going for Oct. 3, and was also named Leading the team with 503 No. 1 Golden Gophers, Lee con- play with excellence and con- to see Lee, Washington, Frantti, to the SEC all-freshman team in kills (an average of 4.17 kills per tributed a career-high 30 kills on tributed 291 kills, 72 digs and Detering and White on the 2015 — Kathryn Cather. set) by the end of the season, the night. averaged 1.16 blocks per set. court, they’re also most likely Despite missing eight match- Lee quickly made herself one of In fact, there were only two Washington was also ranked going to start seeing more of es last season due to a concus- second by The Daily Collegian’s players like outside hitter Clare sion, Cather still led the team Fall Sports Athletes-to-Watch Powers, defensive specialist with a SEC-No. 8 hitting per- Countdown — right behind Emily Sciorra, defensive spe- centage of .351. If Cather follows men’s hockey’s Denis Smirnov. cialist Keeton Holcomb and set- in Detering’s footsteps, then Frantti — Detering, a trans- ter Bryanna Weiskircher. Rose has another heavy-hitter fer from Florida — Gorrell and Powers saw action in nine in his arsenal. White all also made giant contri- matches, logging five kills and With the spring and the sum- butions for Penn State over the two digs, while Sciorra played in mer to rest, recover and fix course of the season, and all eight matches and posted five their mistakes from last season, four of these players will return digs and two service aces. Hol- the 2017 women’s volleyball to the court for the upcoming comb played in all 34 matches of season should be one for the season. her sophomore season and books. This means that Rose not only recorded 186 digs for the Nitta- has reliable players on his court, ny Lions. To email reporter: [email protected]. but the return of these players Penn State also adds former Follow her on Twitter at @StephaniePanny. What to Ali Franti/Collegian Ali Frantti (5) bumps in Penn State’s 3-0 win over Iowa at Rec Hall on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. watch for As Penn State women’s volleyball heads into its 2017 season, there are five things to which fans should be looking toward.

By Gabby Barone against No. 3 Wisconsin (25-4) High School in Katy, Texas. May comb, redshirt junior setter THE DAILY COLLEGIAN and No. 1 Minnesota (record was also a three-time “AVCA Bryanna Weiskircher, sopho- 25-4). Phenom” from 2013-2015, and more libero Kendall White, and As Penn State gears up for Senior leaders was named one of Prep Volley- sophomore middle blocker Tori Collegian Inc. James Building, 123 S. Burrowes St. coach Russ Rose’s 39th season, This fall, Penn State return a ball’s Top 50 Juniors to Watch. Gorrell are just a handful of State College, PA 16801-3882 ©2016 Collegian Inc. here are five things to look for- large number of seniors, includ- Similarly, Putnicki — a prod- returning players who can sup- ward to in the ing outside hitters Simone Lee uct of Lewis-Palmer High plement the talent of the Board of Editors WOMEN’S 2017 season. and Ali Frantti, middle blocker School in Monument, Colorado senior class. Editor in Chief Sam Ruland A dominating Haleigh Washington, setter — was named the Colorado Vol- Last season, Holcomb played Digital Managing Editor Mark Fischer VOLLEYBALL season Abby Detering, defense setter leyball Gatorade Player of the in all 34 matches, recording News Editors Although it Lainy Pierce and then-middle Year in 2016 and was named to 186 digs, while Weiskircher saw Stephanie Panny won the NCAA Championship blocker Heidi Thelen. the 2016 Under Armour All- playing time in 25 matches and & Kara Duriez title in 2014, Penn State has In her junior season, Lee was American Third Team. She was logged 231 assists. Gorrell Photo/Multimedia Editor Erin O’Neill endured a string of stable, but also named Colorado Sports- named AVCA First Team All- returns as well after playing all Sports Editor Vincent Lungaro not exceptional seasons. American and won a multitude woman of the 34 games and posting 201 kills The Nittany Lions ended the of other honors — including Year after playing in every set. Copy Desk Chief Brian Cunningham 2016 season in the regional final ESPNW National Player of the in 2017. A rising sophomore, White Copy Desk Assistant Chief Abbi Sales after a narrow 3-2 loss to Week. Lee started all 34 match- Other returns to the court after post- To contact News Division: Nebraska, finishing with a No. es and led the team with 503 returning ing 500 digs and playing in 34 News, Opinions, Arts, Sports, Photo, Graphics, The 13 ranking and a record of 22-9. kills — a number which ranks standouts games last season. Due to her Daily Collegian Online and The Weekly Collegian The team finished similarly in fourth all-time during a single Junior performance, White was also Phone: (814) 865-1828 | Fax: (814) 863-1126 the 2015 season, again with its season in the 25-point scoring defense named to the Big Ten All- season ending in the regional setup. specialist Freshman Team. Board of Managers final with a loss to Hawaii. Washington, also the recipient Keeton Business Manager Leen Ashraf However, due to the quality of many awards and honors dur- Hol- To email reporter: and quantity of returning talent ing her junior campaign, posted [email protected]. Advertising Manager Scott Witham and their hunger to bring home 291 kills and a team-high 140 Follow her on Twitter at Sales Manager Jamison Rowles another title, it’s reasonable to blocks. @gabbybarone98. To contact Business Division: expect the 2017 season will New talent Advertising, circulation, accounting and classifieds deliver postseason play and As the seniors’ time on the Phone: (814) 865-2531 | Fax: (814) 865-3848 legitimate hopes for a national court dwindles, more and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays championship. more underclassmen will be Challenging matchups given opportunities to play, Postal Information As with every year, the Nitta- including right side Cami May The Weekly Collegian (USPS 497-290) is pub- ny Lions’ 2017 schedule is and outside hitter Michaela lished weekly — 29 times annually while packed with solid and hard-hit- Putnicki. classes are in session, 14 times during Fall ting opponents from start to fin- May was named a Semester, 14 times during Spring Semester ish. volleyballmag.com and once during Summer Session. On Sept. 1, Penn State will Top 50 Underclass- The annual single-copy mail subscription face off against defending 2016 man to price is $41. NCAA champions Stanford, who Watch The Weekly Collegian is published by finished last season with a 21-7 during Collegian Inc., 123 S. Burrowes St., State record, in the Texas A&M Tour- her College, Pa. 16801 nament in College Station, time at Periodicals postage paid at State College, Pa. Texas, and — between Nov. 24 Cinco Postmaster and 25 — will finish the regular Send address changes to The Weekly Collegian, Dept. season with respective matches Ranch G, 123 S. Burrowes St., State College, Pa. 16801-3882. Page 6 | WeDnesDay, aug. 9, 2017 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW The Daily Collegian

MY VIEW | CALEB WILFINGER Lions primed for bounce-back season Heading into last season, Penn State had high aspirations. The overall supporting The Nittany Lions were coming off a 2015-16 campaign in cast for the Nittany MEN’S which they finished with an overall record of 22-9, Lions is deeper and TENNIS and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. much more experienced However, things didn’t quite go to plan in 2016-17, as Penn State ended its sea- than a year ago son early. The Nittany Lions finished with a record of 16-14 and a disappointing 4-0 loss to conference rival Michigan However, they won’t be able to carry in the second round of the Big Ten tour- the team alone. nament. The overall supporting cast for the This year’s squad will begin their cam- Nittany Lions is deeper and much more paign in September and will lead up to experienced than a year ago, which is the ITA Regional Championships in enough reason to possess an optimistic October. outlook. However, the bench did take a Erin O’Neill/Collegian The doubles pairing of Christian hit at the end of last year when it lost Devan McCluskey prepares to hit the ball during a match against University of Pittsburgh in captains David Kohan and Marc Collado Lakoseljac and Constant De La Basse- the Sarni Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday, Feb. 12. tiere had great success at last year’s to graduation. Coach Jeff Zinn has proven himself to tournament, as they advanced to the MY VIEW | CALEB WILFINGER semifinal round. The duo also had great be a strong recruiter, as he has attracted individual successes in singles, with talented young players like Brazilian each of them advancing to the semifinals Gabriel Nemeth and Grecian Christos in that category as well. Antonopoulos and swayed them to buy Those performances at regionals into the program. Loss of seniors weren’t a fluke, either. As freshman last season, Nemeth and Despite only being a freshman, Antonopoulos showed rapid development Lakoseljac performed very well last and were routinely competitors in Big spring and quickly established himself Ten singles matches. Look for the sopho- as a team leader. His résumé was more tandem to be important contribu- signals fresh start impressive and included multiple wins tors this fall. over ranked opponents. The Nittany Lions still need to address The 2016-17 season was a year of ups pairing and individually on the singles On the other hand, De La Bassetiere some questions before the season com- and downs for the Penn State women’s side. had a slow start to the spring season — mences, such as will they prevail over tennis team. Smith’s standout performance of the likely due to an injury — before eventu- top Big Ten competition — Ohio State The Nittany Lions got out to a pretty year came against then No. 10 ally recovering to finish the year on a and Michigan, specifically— in key con- solid start, winning three Kentucky, where she won her singles high note. ference matches, or how they’ll adjust to of their first six matches. match to record Penn State’s only point His brightest moment came in one of an unexpected injury or two. WOMEN’S However, things quickly of the match, while Hanley’s shining the last regular season matches, as Bas- Despite these questions, Penn State TENNIS turned, as they proceed- moment came against Pittsburgh, when setiere won his singles match in three looks poised to rebound from last sea- ed to lose twelve of their she won her singles match in three sets to seal a crucial victory against son’s disappointing result and make remaining fifteen matches, and finished grueling sets to secure a close victory Indiana. The junior should also have a strides toward the top of the Big Ten. the campaign with an overall record of for the Nittany Lions. sizable impact on Penn State’s 6-15. In addition to the sophomore duo, performance this year. To email reporter: [email protected]. To add insult to injury, the squad lost Penn State also has two rising seniors Follow him on Twitter at @caleb_wilfinger. five seniors to graduation at the end of who will have a big impact on the the year, including their top three singles squad’s performance this season. players: Katia Blik, Devan McCluskey, Bennett Dunn and Taylor Shukow will and Jacqueline Zuhse. look to take over the leadership role Despite the difficult season last year which was previously occupied by last and the loss of some of their most impor- year’s crop of seniors. tant players, there are positives to be Dunn excelled in doubles last season, had for the Nittany Lions heading into reaching the semifinals at the Cissie this season. Leary invitational. However, she’s also Yes, they are rebuilding, but coach shown great improvement in singles and Chris Cagle has some talented pieces is someone you can count on when the around which he can build in the coming match is on the line. years. While Shukow didn’t play much last For starters, the two key players to season, she will be thrust into a bigger look out for are Samantha Smith and role now that the seniors ahead of her Shannon Hanley. The tandem of sopho- are gone. Her biggest moment last sea- mores burst onto the Big Ten scene last son was a victory at James Madison. spring with their success as a doubles In many ways, the Nittany Lions are playing with house money this year. They know that they have the talent to In many ways, the win matches, but only time will tell if things like team chemistry or inexperi- Nittany Lions are ence will hurt them in big tournaments and conference play. Georgi DeCarmine/Collegian playing with house Aws Laaribi hits the ball during a match against Viriginia Commonwealth University at the money this year. To email reporter: [email protected]. Sarni Indoor Tennis Center on Friday, Feb. 10. Follow him on Twitter at @caleb_wilfinger.

MY VIEW | JACK R. HIRSH The best is yet to come Despite all the accolades Penn State standout catapult the Nittany Lions into the NCAA Nation- Cole Miller received in 2016-17 after collecting five al Championship with 3-shot win at the NCAA wins and being named the Nittany Lions’ first All- Washington Regional. American since 2010, he wasn’t The two were clearly the best players on a actually the team’s lowest scorer. very good team, but that’s not to say they carried Through the regular season, the load by themselves. however, it was former Big Ten One of the boosts to coach Greg Nye’s team Freshman of the Year Charles last year was the emergence of then-sophomore Huntzinger whose average was just Ryan Dornes, who picked up his first collegiate two tenths of a stroke lower than win at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate as co-cham- Miller. Huntzinger also picked up pion with Miller. one win last season at the Bank of Unfortunately for Dornes and Penn State, the Tennessee Intercol- Kingsmill was his last event of the season as he MEN’S legiate, and had broke his hand and was unavailable for the GOLF the team’s team’s run to the national championship. top finish With Christian Elliott and Alec Bard taking at the Dornes’ spot in the lineup, the Nittany Lions still Brianna Basile/Collegian Big Ten made it to the national cham- Cara Basso reads the putt during the second round of the Nittany Lion Champi- pionship. Elliott is the only Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. onship, com- player to make a start for ing in solo Penn State last year not fourth place. returning this season He also after he graduated in picked up All- May. Taking the next Big Ten First But perhaps the most overlooked Team, while player on Penn State’s roster is Miller only former Kent State transfer JD Hughes. garnered Hughes had an up-and-down first year second step forward for the Nittany Lions, picking up just team. one top-10, but Hughes bested Miller at Of the Penn- sylvania Amateur in early By Thomas Schlarp Featuring such a young lineup, course, August — and Miller was the defend- THE DAILY COLLEGIAN the Nittany Lions were bound to Miller’s ing champion. encounter a bumpy road, but not spring sea- After winning Pennsylvania’s top Following a roller-coaster without the added benefit of gain- son was amateur championship, the Carlisle year of ups and downs, Penn ing much-needed experience to one to native figures to have some added State is looking to build off a prepare the team for its ultimate remember confidence. disappointing goal of qualifying for the 2018 for the rising Miller also played well in his title season-ending NCAA Championship. senior. WOMEN’S defense, finished tied for second GOLF 11th place finish “We feel that we have a team He col- among the field of 121. lected four at the Big Ten that has matured over a couple In addition to these juniors and lone Championship, of years and has the ability to wins (two senior, Penn State also has some promising full field) and sets its eyes on reaching hopefully get it done,” coach De- young talent, led by rising sophomore Ryan in the next spring’s NCAA Tourna- nise St. Pierre said about her Davis. ment. team’s goal. “We’re ready. It’s Davis played in all but one event his fresh- Last year, the team won two time.” man campaign and collected two top-10s includ- tournaments, the Nittany Lion Time starts when Penn State’s ing a solo sixth place finish at Penn State’s home Invitational in the fall, and the season tees off as the team trav- tournament, the Rutherford Intercollegiate. River Landing Classic in the els to Williamsburg, Virginia to Davis played his first 36 holes at the Ruther- ford in 2-under which put him in contention to be spring, yet failed to qualify for play in the William and Mary Invi- the second-straight Penn State freshman to win the NCAA’s. tational, a new tournament for all the event. He faded with a Sunday 75 in difficult Only one upperclassman, the players on this year’s team. now graduated Kate Granahan, “This is a good tournament to sec- scoring conditions, but the performance was still impressive for the freshman. saw consistent action last sea- start off with,” St. Pierre said. ond half son. The lineup was dominated “It’ll be a good way to get their of the The reason Huntzinger didn’t receive the acco- by underclassmen, such as feet wet and get back into the regular lades Miller did was in part because of his erratic then-sophomores Jackie Rogo- swing of the collegiate golf cir- season play in the spring. He finished outside the top-10 and then three times during the spring, including the wicz, Lauren Waller, and Cara cuit.” helped Regional and NCAA Championship. Basso and then-freshmen Mad- To read full story, visit To read full story, visit collegian.psu.edu. dy Herr and Ashni Dhruva. collegian.psu.edu.