Senior Penn State outside hitter Megan Hodge turned in a match-high 20 kills on .366 hitting and the No. 1 Nittany Lions hit .454 as a team in a 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-21) win against No. 14 Florida on Friday evening in the NCAA Regional Semifinals at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Senior Florida (25-6) libero Elyse Cusack became the Southeastern Conference’s all-time career digs leader on Friday evening, turning in a match-high 15 digs to increase her career total to 2,138 and allow her to surpass former Arkansas standout Ashley Miller (2,126) for the league’s all-time record.
The match marked the final contest for Cusack and fellow senior Kristina Johnson, who end their careers for the Gators with a 111-15 record (.880) record over the four-year timespan. The duo competed in four NCAA Regional Semifinals and three SEC Championships.
Penn State (35-0), which extended its NCAA record consecutive winning streak to 99 matches, advances to the NCAA Gainesville Regional Final against Cal.
Sophomore outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel led the way for the Gators offensively on Friday, turning in a team-high nine kills, while sophomore outside hitter Colleen Ward followed with eight kills.
Sophomore right-side/setter Kelly Murphy dished out a team-high 26 assists, while junior right-side Callie Rivers added seven kills and a season-high 10 digs.
Florida ends its season with its 18th NCAA Regional Semifinal appearance in the last 19 years and extended the nation’s longest consecutive streak of 25-win seasons to 19.
Photo Gallery: UF Volleyball vs. Penn State 12/11/09 (click here to view gallery)
DIRECTORY OF GATOR COUNTRY PHOTO GALLERIES