PSU DIGEST

From CDT staff reports

UNIVERSITY PARK — The third-ranked Penn State men’s volleyball team needed four games to knock off Lewis (30-28, 28-30, 30-26, 30-22) Friday night in the Nittany Lions’ home opener.

It was Penn State’s first match since winning the Outrigger Invitational in Hawaii as it improved to 4-0.

Max Holt led the team with 14 kills on .391 hitting to go with five blocks, Matt Anderson provided 13 kills, Jay Stauffer tallied 10 kills on .450 hitting and Max Lipsitz added seven kills and six blocks. Luke Murray dished out 46 assists while freshman Dennis Del Valle had 12 digs.

As a team, Penn State outhit Lewis .254 to .173 and won the blocking battle 13.5 to 12.

Jared Dayton led the Flyers with 21 kills while Drew Pickering tallied 13 kills. Mike Iandolo dished out 44 assists and Nick Perakes notched 13 digs. Alex Vigansky headed the blocking list with five blocks.

Football

Blackledge to receive NCAA award

INDIANAPOLIS — Former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge will receive the prestigious NCAA Silver Anniversary Award on Sunday.

A college football analyst with ESPN and ABC, Blackledge, who led the Nittany Lions to the 1982 National Championship, is one of seven former NCAA student-athletes who will receive the award. The prize, which acknowledges the former student-athletes on their 25th anniversary of completing their athletics eligibility, will be presented at the 43rd annual NCAA Honors Celebration, during the annual NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

The award recognizes former student-athletes who completed successful collegiate careers in various sports and have excelled in their chosen professions.

Blackledge is the third former Penn State student-athlete to receive the honor, joining Mike Reid (1995; football) and Dave Joyner (1997; football and wrestling).