Jan. 21, 2012
CHICAGO, Ill. - The sixth-ranked Penn State men's volleyball team (2-0) earned a 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 26-24) victory against No. 14 Loyola-Chicago Friday evening. The match was delayed until 9 p.m. ET due to inclement weather.
Redshirt senior Joe Sunder (Greensburg, Pa.) and sophomore Jace Olsen (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) led the team with 11 kills apiece, while freshman Aaron Russell (Ellicott City, Md.) posted a personal-best 10 kills on .625 hitting. Redshirt senior Edgardo Goas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) paced the Nittany Lion offense with 38 assists and had a team-best four total blocks. Redshirt freshman Connor Curry (Newport Beach, Calif.) led the team on defense with seven digs.
The Nittany Lions hit .346 against the Ramblers and totaled 43 kills, three aces, 25 digs and 8.0 total team blocks. Loyola registered a .224 hitting percentage and had 31 kills, two aces, 18 digs and 12.5 team blocks.
Penn State took a 4-1 lead to open the match. The Nittany Lions maintained at least a two-point lead until a Loyola service error and a kill by Comfort had Penn State ahead by four, 11-7, and the Ramblers taking a timeout. After the break, Penn State embarked on a 6-2 run for a 16-10 lead forcing a second Rambler trip to the bench. The Ramblers closed the gap to four, 18-14, but a Loyola service error and three straight Olsen kills had the Lions leading by eight, 22-14. Joseph Smalzer cut off the run with a kill and soon after a 5-2 Loyola run had the Ramblers within three, 24-21. However, Sunder closed out the set for PSU with a kill for a 25-21 win.
The second frame began much like the first with the Lions grabbing an early, albeit slim, lead. It wasn't until midway through the set that Penn State began to take control. A Sunder kill and a joint stuff by Russell and Comfort pushed the Lions up by three, 14-11, and forced a Rambler timeout. The teams traded points briefly as Penn Stae's lead increased to five, 20-15. Loyola called a timeout and slowed the Nittany Lions enough to come within three, 21-18. Penn State called a timeout and each team proceeded to tally three service errors to make it 24-21 in favor of Penn State. Russell pounded a kill to secure set two for PSU, 25-21.
The Ramblers took the lead in the third stanza going up 8-5 to start. Penn State called a timeout, but continued to trail until kills from Olsen, Russell and Sunder knotted the score at 14-14. The score tied once more before a Loyola error and a Sunder putdown moved Penn State into the lead, 17-15. Loyola called a timeout and managed to tie it up at 18 all. The score tied six additional times with the lead changing hand three times before an Olsen kill and a Rambler error had PSU at match point, 25-24. Comfort and Russell teamed up for a block to end the match in PSU's favor, 26-24.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions remain on the road taking on No. 9 Lewis at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 21.
For more information on the Penn State men's volleyball team, please visit GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State men's volleyball 2012 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets.