UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – The Penn State men's volleyball team extended its win streak to three games with a straight-sets win over Lindenwood 3-0 (30-28, 25-15, 25-23) at Rec Hall's South Gym Saturday evening.
Penn State (4-2) improved to 3-2 in nonconference action and 3-1 at Rec Hall this season. Lindenwood dropped to 2-5 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- Both teams hung close with each other until Penn State scored three-straight points capped by a kill from Sam Marsh to make it 16-12 and forced Lindenwood to call timeout.
- The Nittany Lions led 23-20 before a furious Lindenwood run. The Lions scored four-straight to pin Penn State up on a set point. Penn State fended off that set point plus another one at 25-24.
- Brett Wildman provided a service ace off the bench to swing the rally back in Penn State's favor. Lindenwood hung on for two set points, but Henrik Falck Lauten's kill on the third clinched the set for the Nittany Lions.
- Set Score: 30-28 Penn State
- Match: Penn State leads 1-0
Second Set
- The Nittany Lions sped out to a 5-1 lead in set two. Cal Fisher had a service ace and a kill.
- A kill by Falck Lauten put Penn State up 10-5 and forced a Lindenwood timeout.
- Penn State kept a comfortable cushion until it turned on the jets at 20-15. Penn State scored five-straight points to finish the set. Cal Fisher had two more service aces, McLaren and Falck Lauten notched kills, and Donorovich and Falck Lauten teamed up for a block assist.
- Set Score: 25-15 Penn State
- Match: Penn State leads 2-0
Third Set
- A service ace by Jason Donorovich capped a three-point run for Penn State early in the set to build a 6-3 lead.
- Lindenwood tied the set at 15-15, but the Nittany Lions rallied off four of the next five points concluded by a Matthew McLaren. Lindenwood took a timeout down 19-16.
- A block assist by Cole Bogner, Donorovich, and McLaren put Penn State ahead 22-17.
- Lindenwood held off two Penn State set points to pull the score to 24-23 PSU, but Brett Wildman came off the bench on the next point and picked up the kill to finish the match.
- Set Score: 25-23
- Match: Penn State wins 3-0
MIKE ANDERSON MAN OF THE MATCH
Fr. OPP Cal Fisher
- Fisher finished the match with the most kills among all players with 12. It was his highest total of the season.
- Fisher was also efficient on his attacks with a .400 hitting percentage (12-2-25). His three service aces also led all players while his six digs tied for second on the Nittany Lions for the evening.
STAT STANDOUTS
- Matthew McLaren and Henrik Falck Lauten joined Fisher with double-digit kills at 11 apiece. The trio had 25 attacks each.
- Jason Donorovich was a force at the net all night long, finishing with seven total blocks (1 solo, 6 assists).
- Cole Bogner had 33 assists and showed some impressive defensive flashes with four digs and four block assists.
- Will Bantle topped the Nittany Lions with nine digs.
- Penn State hit .319 (41-12-91) to Lindenwood's .121 (33-21-99) for the match.
NEXT UP
Penn State heads to Illinois for a pair of nonconference matches against ranked opponents. The Nittany Lions face #9 Lewis Thursday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST before taking on #5 Loyola Chicago Saturday, Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. EST/ 3 p.m. CST.