Penn State earns Senior Night sweep over Northwestern

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In its senior night victory, No. 14 Penn State (19-8, 13-5) swept Northwestern (13-15, 7-11) in three sets to close out their last home game of the season. The Nittany Lions dominated in the first set, winning by ten points. While the other two sets were played, the lead fluctuated back and forth between the Nittany Lions and the Wildcats.

The Nittany Lions started off Senior Night strong with four consecutive back-to-back points. Penn State remained in control during the whole first set, never losing the lead. Penn State took the set 25-15 with 17 kills and a hitting percentage of .483.

The kills were a group effort in the opening set as Jess Mruzik led the Nittany Lions with five kills, followed by Camryn Hannah tallying four kills. While Zoe Weatherington and Allie Holland both had three kills of their own. Taylor Trammell also had two kills.

The second and third sets were more of a battle for the Nittany Lions. The lead during these sets alternated the whole time between Penn State and Northwestern. Mruzik called the game on the second set with a kill, giving Penn State the 25-23 win.

“I think that this group competes hard whether we are down three or four points, we keep grinding and finding ways to score… They don’t stop and are working really well as a team,” head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said.

Set three started off with a kill from the senior blocking machine Zoe Weatherington. Weatherington had the best hitting percentage in this matchup against Northwestern with a percentage of .545.

Throughout set three, no team ever took the lead by more than four points. Both Gillian Grimes and Jess Mruzik had aces that helped the Nittany Lions tie the Wildcats. Mruzik’s ace tied the score at 15-15. Shortly after, Grimes aced to tie the game 18-18.

Mruzik was a force to be reckoned with, as she had the last three points of the final set and led her team with 15 kills to clinch the final set at 25-23.

The senior night victory was the culmination of years dedicated to developing the Penn State women’s volleyball program by some of its most crucial players, including Maddy Bilinovic and Allie Holland.

“It was an awesome atmosphere, and to do it on Senior Night… Allie, Macy and I have been here all four years and I think that it means so much to us, and I think the group understands that and did what we needed to do to get that win,” Bilinovic said.

“It means everything, I’ve given my blood, sweat and tears here for four years and I’ve done it with my best friends and I am forever grateful for this opportunity,” senior Holland said..

Penn State will finish up its regular season on the road with matches against Maryland on Oct. 22 and Ohio State on Oct. 24.

Mckenna Kerr is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email mgk5278@psu.edu.