No. 3 Women’s Volleyball Holds Off Upset Bid from Ohio State – Penn State

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jess Mruzik recorded a double-double of 29 kills and 12 digs as No. 3 Penn State outlasted Ohio State 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-16, 18-25, 16-14) in Big Ten Women’s Volleyball action Friday night at the Covelli Center. The Nittany Lions won their ninth-consecutive match to improve to 17-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference, while the Buckeyes’ loss put them at 8-9 overall and 1-6 in league play.

Mruzik tallied 29 kills for the second time this season, with both occurrences coming in Penn State wins against Big Ten opponents. She was joined in double-figures by Taylor Trammell with 11 kills. She was also joined in her double-double efforts as freshman Izzy Starck racked up 50 assists and 17 digs. It was the third double-double of the season for Mruzik and the seventh for Starck.

Penn State trailed 13-11 in the fifth set before tying it with back-to-back points on a kill by Mruzik and a serve by Ava Falduto that put Ohio State out of sorts and led to a bad set. A service error put the Buckeyes up 14-13. The Nittany Lions responded by closing the match with a 3-0 run. Starck found Mruzik for a kill to tie it, and libero Gillian Grimes then set Hannah for a kill to give Penn State a 15-14 lead. Match point came on a block by Hannah and Maggie Mendelson.

While the offense at times stalled due to troubles with its passing, Penn State turned to hustle plays and a strong defensive effort to stay afloat and get the win. The team totaled 13 blocks, with Mendelson playing a role in eight of them. Mruzik and Trammell were in on four blocks apiece.

Grimes was busy in the back row, leading a group of four Penn State players in double-digits with her 25 digs. Starck was next with 17, while Mruzik and Falduto had 10 apiece. Anjelina Starck did her part with eight digs.

Freshman Emmi Sellman had a breakout match for Ohio State, leading the team with 27 kills on .286 hitting and nine digs. Emily Londot finished with 19 kills, but Penn State was able to hold the All-American to .169 hitting.

Penn State won its 13^th-straight Big Ten regular season match. The streak, which dates back to last season, is the longest active streak in the conference.

Up next for No. 3 Penn State is a home match with No. 14 Minnesota on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Rec Hall. It is the team’s annual Dig Pink match, as well as Alumni Day. The 1999, 2009, and 2014 NCAA Championship teams will be honored.