MINNEAPOLIS--The No. 12 University of Minnesota volleyball team fell to the Penn State Nittany Lionsin three sets, 18-25, 25-27, 22-25 on Friday evening at Maturi Pavilion.
"It's important for us to learn from this loss and continue to grow from it," said head coach Hugh McCutcheon. "We have to keep competing and being resilient because we're going to be in a lot of tight matches going forward. Credit to Penn State for making some big plays at key opportunities.
The Golden Gophers (11-6, 6-3Big Ten) were paced by sophom*ore outside Jenna Wenaas, who had 15 kills.Stephanie Samedyhad 12 kills and a team-high 16 digs. Melani Shaffmaster tallied 36assists and 11 digs.
As a team, Minnesota hit .289with 46kills, two aces, 53 digs and five blocks. Penn State (14-5,7-2 Big Ten)hit .356 with 60 kills, fouraces,61digs andfour blocks. Jonni Parker led theNittany Lionswith 16kills while Adanna Rollins tallied 11 kills and 13 digs.
Set Breakdown:
Set 1: Penn State scored the first two points of the set before a kill from Samedy and a block from Myers and Wenaas tied it up at two. The Nittany Lions went on a 5-0 run after that, leading tothe first timeout of the match from coach McCutcheon. The two teams split the next four points before a 7-4 Nittany Lions run gave them a 16-8 lead and forced Minnesota into taking its second timeout of the set. A kill from Wenaas and a block from Myers put the 'U' within six at 16-10 before a 3-0 PSU run brought the lead to nine. The Gophers would cut the deficit to five at 22-17 but would get no closer, dropping set one, 25-18. PSU hit .380 in the set compared to .256 for Minnesota. Airi Miyabe led the offense with six kills while Samedy had four with eight digs.
Set 2: Minnesota jumped out to an early lead in set two, going up 3-0 after two PSU attacking errors and an ace from Katie Myers. After the Nittany Lions got on the board, the Gophers scored four of the next five to go up 7-2 and force the visitors into their first timeout of the set. A couple kills from Samedy and an ace from Shaffmaster sparked the hot start. A kill from Rubright put the home team up 8-2 before PSU scored three of the next four to cut the deficit to 9-5. The Gophers did their best to keep the Nittany Lions at arms reach during the middle of the set, leading by as many as six at 11-5 and as few as three at 18-15. Six kills from Wenaas paced the offensive attack. A 3-1 Gophers run put them up 21-16 and led to PSU's second timeout of the set. PSU cut the lead to 22-20, leading to coach McCutcheon calling his first timeout of the set. The 'U' would go up 24-21 after kills from Miyabe and Wenaas, but a kill and a block from the visitors cut the lead to 24-23 and forced another timeout. PSU went on to score three of the next four and win the set, 27-25. PSU hit .317 while Minnesota hit .283. Wenaas led the Gophers with eight kills on the set while Miyabe had four to reach 10 on the match.
Set 3: The two teams went back and forth for the first 16 points of the set with no one leading by more than a point. A 3-0 PSU run gave the visitors an 11-8 lead and forced the Gophers into their first timeout of the set. Two kills from Miyabe got the home team back within two at 12-10 before a 3-1 PSU run put them back up four, 15-11. Two kills from Wenaas and a solo block from Myersgot Minnesota back within one at 15-14. Kills from Myers and Wenaas and two consecutive Gophers blocks gave them their first lead of the set at 18-16, forcing Penn State to burn a timeout. PSU would tie it up at 19 and 20 before eventually retaking the lead. After they went up 22-20, coach McCutcheon took his second timeout to try and recapture the momentum. It was not to be tonight for Minnesota as PSU closed the final set, 25-22, to end the match and take the sweep.
Notable:
-Airi Miyaberegistered 14 kills for her fifth straight match with double digit kills.
-Stephanie Samedyregistered 12kills and a team-high 16 digs.
-Jenna Wenaastallied 15kills, her 13th time this season with double digits.
-Melani Shaffmasterregistered 36assists, 11 digs, anaceand two blocks.
-Katie Myers had four kills and a team-best five blocks.
Up Next:
Minnesotahosts No. 6 Ohio State (16-2, 6-2 Big Ten) on Sundayat Maturi Pavilion. The match is set for 4p.m. CT on BTN.
