No. 4 Women’s Volleyball Improves to 28-2 with Sweep at Rutgers – Penn State

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 4 Penn State Women’s Volleyball kept its Big Ten title hopes alive with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-20) sweep over Rutgers on Wednesday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The Nittany Lions head back to Happy Valley at 28-2 overall and 18-1 in the conference.

The win sets up a huge matchup between Penn State and No. 2 Nebraska on Friday at a sold-out Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions sit one match behind the Cornhuskers in the conference standings and can clinch at least a share of the title with a win. The Huskers secure the outright title if they win, but if they were to lose they will need to beat Maryland on Saturday to grab a share of the championship with the Nittany Lions.

Camryn Hannah led all players with 13 kills in the win over Rutgers, reaching double-digits for the 12^th-straight match. Jess Mruzik recorded her 11^th double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs, while Izzy Starck notched her 13^th double-double while tallying 36 assists, 10 digs, five kills, and two blocks.

It was yet another balanced attack for Penn State as Maggie Mendelson added eight kills to her team-high five blocks. Taylor Trammell and Caroline Jurevicius contributed five kills apiece. Even libero Gillian Grimes got in on the action with a kill.

Grimes also led the defensive effort with 13 digs as Rutgers was held to .133 hitting. Ava Falduto also reached double-figures with 10 digs, while Jocelyn Nathan did her part with a career-high six.

Penn State continued its strong serving as of late, and it was again Quinn Menger leading the way. She had a pair of aces to give her 14 over the past five matches. Grimes and Hannah also had two aces, while Mruzik chipped in with one.

Rutgers, which was coming off a win over Northwestern in its most recent match, dropped to 6-24 overall and 1-18 in the conference. Zora Hardison had a big match in a losing effort, hitting .529 with 10 kills and three blocks.

Penn State reached 28 wins in a season for the 31^st time in program history. It is the team’s most wins in a season since going 33-2 in 2017.

Set 1
Izzy Starck tallied 10 assists and Penn State hit .333 in an easy 25-12 win in the opening set. In addition to her setting, Starck contributed to the solid hitting percentage with three kills on three attacks. Hannah and Mruzik had four kills apiece, while Mendelson came through with three blocks. The blowout started early with a 5-0 run to open the set that was capped by a pair of kills by Jurevicius.

Set…