UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 6 Penn State women's volleyball team stepped up to the challenge on Saturday evening as an aggressive Texas A&M squad came to play in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions took down the Aggies, 3-0; 25-14, 25-15, 25-22, in the final match of the Penn State Invitational on Saturday evening.
Penn State's defensive was the shining star if the evening as the Nittany Lions (5-0) combined for 40 digs, 11.5 team blocks and held the Aggies to just .093 hitting. Freshmen Serena Gray and Kaitlyn Hord were a wall at the net. Gray tallied seven blocks and Hord added three. In the back court, Kendall White scooped up 15 digs, while Bryanna Weiskircher added 10.
Weiskircher, who was named the Penn State Invitational MVP, recorded a double-double with her 10 digs and a match-high 33 assists. She also added three blocks, an ace and a kill on the evening.
Offensively, the freshmen were the key contributors as Jonni Parker put down 11 kills on .400 clip. She added two blocks, six digs and an ace. Gray added six kills on a .600 hitting percentage, while Hord finished with seven kills on a .500 hitting percentage.
Redshirt senior Nia Reed also added seven kills and two blocks on the evening.
Penn State welcomed back dozens of alumni for the celebration of Russ Rose's 40th Season.
The Nittany Lions hit the road for the first time this season as they head to Stanford for the Big Ten/Pac 12 Challenge on Sept. 7 as they play host Stanford on Friday evening at 11 p.m. ET.
Penn State Invitational All-Tournament Team
Bryanna Weiskircher – PSU – MVP
Serena Gray – PSU
Kaitlyn Hord - PSU
Hollann Hans - TAMU
Camille Conner - TAMU
Katerina Papazoglou – Temple
Breana Edwards - IU
Bayli Lebo - IU