Penn State Women’s Volleyball Weekend Recap: Nittany Lions Earn Two Road Big Ten Victories

Entering the weekend, Penn State women’s volleyball was undefeated in Big Ten play, and they remained unblemished after picking up two conference road wins.

The Nittany Lions defeated Illinois in three sets Friday night before besting Minnesota in a four-set victory Saturday night. The wins mean the blue and white, along with Nebraska and Wisconsin, are tied for first in the Big Ten with a 4-0 mark.

Against Illinois, Penn State started strong, recording six of the first eight points in set one, the last coming from a Mac Podraza kill. The Fighting Illini eventually tied the set at 11, but the blue and white scored the next five points, the last from an Allie Holland kill, to take a 16-11 lead. The Nittany Lions fought off a late Illinois surge, finishing the first set with a Jess Mruzik kill.

In the second set, Penn State found itself in a 9-9 tie after giving up three straight points to the Fighting Illini. However, a Taylor Trammell kill turned the tide in favor of the Nittany Lions, giving them a 10-9 lead. The blue and white ended the set with a kill from Camryn Hannah, who led all players with 12 kills.

As the third set began, the Nittany Lions fell behind early but rebounded to tie the set at six. Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s team slowly took control, eventually leading 14-9 after a kill by Mruzik. Penn State led by seven at one point and scored the game’s final two points to take the set and the match.

The blue and white quickly shook off the jetlag against Minnesota, as they took a 7-1 lead in the first set behind three Mruzik kills. Penn State kept building its lead and captured the set, 25-14.

The Nittany Lions carried their momentum into the second set, taking an early 7-5 lead. The Golden Gophers then bounced back, capitalizing on several Penn State miscues to tie the set. A Taylor Landfair kill gave Minnesota the 10-9 lead, the beginning of a 4-0 Minnesota run. Despite Penn State making it interesting late, another kill by Landfair tied the match at one set each.

Penn State started the third set by splitting the first four points but rebounded to take a 7-3 lead. However, the blue and white found itself tied with the Golden Gophers at 15 after several Minnesota rallies. An Alexa Markley kill put Penn State back in front and the Nittany Lions did not give up their lead, taking the third set, 25-20.

The fourth set began with the Golden Gophers starting fast, taking six of the first eight points, before Penn State rebounded to tie the set at seven. Neither team struggled to build a big lead until a Trammell kill put the blue and white up 21-18.

The Nittany Lions’ lead soon evaporated after another Golden Gopher rally and the set later became deadlocked at 24. After the teams split the next four points, a kill by Holland gave Penn State a 27-26 lead. A Minnesota attack error handed the win to the Nittany Lions, capping a two-game road trip.

Will Duerksen is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email wdd5066@psu.edu.