Strong defense leads No. 3 Penn State women’s volleyball to Penn State Classic win over Yale

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – With a career-high 27 digs, libero Gillian Grimes anchored an impressive defensive effort for the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-1 overall), as they topped the Yale Bulldogs (5-3 overall) by a match score of 3-1 in Sunday’s Penn State Classic finale at Rec Hall.

Grimes was one of three Penn State players to record double-digit digs in the match. Freshmen Ava Falduto and Izzy Starck chipped in with 15 and 12, respectively. Falduto’s tally was also a career-high.

Although the Bulldogs put pressure on Penn State early and often with their serves and their swings, the Nittany Lions seemed to always have a player in position to play the ball up, allowing the chance for Penn State’s potent hitters to go to work. Camryn Hannah led the way with 18 Penn State kills, while team captain Jess Mruzik had 15.

The contest – which was a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament first-round game between the Nittany Lions and the Bulldogs – started with the home team jumping out to an early first-set advantage. The Nittany Lions took the lead for good at the 6-5 mark of the opening frame and extended their advantage to as much as eight points before ultimately claiming a 25-18 Set 1 win.

The second set was much of the same story, as Yale struggled to side out against a Nittany Lions team that hit .452 in that frame. Grimes ended the set with her team-leading 13th service ace of the season, as Penn State took a 25-16 win.

The third set was where the Bulldogs showed both their bark and their bite, as they battled hard with the Nittany Lions in a nip-and-tuck affair. A set that saw 15 ties and four lead changes ultimately went the way of Yale, as a Besty Goodenow kill followed by an Isabella Mendoza service ace gave the Ivy League team a 25-23 win.

Despite being forced back onto their heels, the Nittany Lions quickly took command of the fourth set. Jess Mruzik came back into the match after not playing the third set and helped spark an 8-2 run with three kills and a block. Penn State never trailed, and a Taylor Trammell kill clinched the match with a 25-13 Set 4 win.

The Nittany Lions defense held Yale to .205 hitting in the match, and Mruzik was quick to give credit to Grimes and Falduto, the anchors of Penn State’s back row.

“[Quinn Menger] and I were actually talking during the third set about just how free and reckless [Grimes] was playing,” Mruzik said. “I think that’s when she’s playing her best, and same with Ava.”

“They both did a really good job of taking care of the ball and getting some insane touches, and it makes Maggie [Mendelson] and I’s job really easy.”

“[Grimes has] always been a really good passer, and she’s getting better,” coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said. “Defensively, she was where she should be and made great plays, and kept the ball alive so that we can score.”

Penn State once again scored with strong efficiency, totaling a .371 hitting percentage over the match en route to the Nittany Lions’ 10th win of the year in its final non-conference match of the regular season.

Up next, Penn State will hit the road for a marquee matchup to open Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions will take on Purdue – currently ranked at No. 6 in the AVCA Coaches Poll – in West Lafayette on Sept. 25.

Kasey Kreider is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email kmk6865@psu.edu.