UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- No. 4 Penn State posted its first win over a nationally-ranked team this season with a 3-0 (25-21, 29-27, 25-19) sweep over No. 10 Oregon on Saturday night at Rec Hall. Sophomore Jonni Parker tallied 15 kills, eight digs and four total blocks as the Nittany Lions improved to 6-1 and closed the Big Ten/Pac 12 Challenge with a victory.
All six of Penn State's wins this season have come by 3-0 scores, while the lone loss came in four sets to No. 1 Stanford at Rec Hall on Friday. The win over Oregon dropped the Ducks to 2-3 overall. All three of their losses came against teams currently ranked in the top 10.
Kaitlyn Hord was strong in the middle with six blocks and eight kills. She averaged 12.0 kills and 6.0 blocks for the weekend.
After not having a double-double through the first four matches, the team now has two as sophomore Gabby Blossom posted one for the second consecutive night, finishing with 40 assists and 10 digs. Senior Kendall White also had double-digit digs with 12, giving her 1,608 for her career. She needs 78 to pass Kim Kumfer (1989-92) for second in program history.
Other notable performances for Penn State included Allyson Cathey with eight kills and Serena Gray with seven kills and two blocks. Keeton Holcomb finished with eight digs, while Jenna Hampton added four.
The second set was the only one in which Penn State was in danger of losing. The score was tied 23-23 before Penn State gained the advantage with a one-point lead thanks to an attack error. The Lions finally clinched the set on their fourth chance with another attack error by the Ducks. Parker had a kill the previous point to set up the set-winner.
Taylor Williams paced Oregon with 10 kills. Brooke Nuneviller also had 10 kills as part of a double-double with 10 digs, but Penn State held her to .000 hitting. The Nittany Lions held the Ducks to .164 hitting as a team.
Penn State will have another matchup of teams currently ranked in the top 10 as it plays a home-and-home with No. 6 Pitt. The Lions will host the Panthers on Friday at 8 p.m., and will travel to play at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh on Sunday at 1 p.m.