University Park, Pa. - The Villanova volleyball team kicks off their 2015 campaign with a weekend road trip to University Park, Pa. and the Penn State Classic. The Wildcats first game will be against Stony Brook on Friday, August 28 at 5:00 pm. On Saturday, Villanova will play Buffalo at 10:00 am and will finish the weekend with a match against No. 1 Penn State at 7:00 pm.

Villanova, coached by ninth year head coach and Penn State graduate Josh Steinbach, recorded a 13-20 record last season and finished seventh in the BIG EAST, missing postseason play.

The Wildcats are led by preseason All-BIG EAST selection Lauren Carpenter. Carpenter led Villanova with 347 kills and 3.37 kills per set last season.

Stony Brook, coached by Coley Pawlikowski, finished last season with a 17-15 record and third in the American East Conference.

The Seawolves return Kathy Fletcher who was tallied 274 kills and 21 service aces, second on the team in both categories.

Buffalo, coached by first year head coach Blair Brown Lipsitz, also finished last season with a 17-15 record. Lipsitz was a four-time National Champion during her playing career at Penn State. The Bulls finished eighth in the Mid-American Conference and was knocked out of the MAC Tournament in the first round.

Taheia Bishop returns for her senior season after a 376 kills, 245 digs season in her junior year.

Penn State is the preseason No. 1 ranked team in the country after a 36-3 record and a National Championship last season. The Nittany Lions, under head coach Russ Rose, dropped only 10 sets a season ago on their way to their sixth championship in the last eight years.

The Nittany Lions return four of their top five in kills from last season. Ali Frantti led the team last season with 391 kills while Aiyana Whitney recorded 372 kills.

After the Penn State Classic, the Wildcats will travel west to the Denver Classic in Denver, Colo. to play matches against Air Force, UT Arlington and host team the University of Denver on September 4-5.


Penn State Classic:

Tournament Central