EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 8 Penn State erased a seven-point deficit in set one and didn't trail the rest of the match in a 3-0 (26-24, 25-11, 25-19) win over Michigan State in a Big Ten women's volleyball contest Sunday at the Jenison Field House.
Penn State wrapped up a 2-0 weekend in the Great Lakes State, beating Michigan and Michigan State. The Lions head back to State College with a 14-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the Big Ten. The Spartans dropped to 13-5 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
The Lions used a balanced attack for the second time this weekend as five players had at least five kills. Kaitlyn Hord led the way again, totaling eight kills on .467 hitting while matching a career high with eight blocks. Jonni Parker finished with 10 kills on .375 hitting, while Serena Gray tallied nine with a .389 clip. Tori Gorrell and Allyson Cathey contributed eight and five kills, respectively.
Just one match after totaling 21 digs in a four-set win at Michigan, Kendall White turned in 18 in the sweep over Michigan State. She also matched a career high with four aces, all of which came in the first two sets.
Penn State trailed 21-14 in the opening set before scoring 12 of the final 15 points. Aces by Macall Peed and White were key to the comeback. Peed's fifth of the season cut the deficit to two (22-20), while White's seventh of the year gave the Lions a one-point lead at 24-23. It was their first lead of the set.
Michigan State tied it at 24-all with a point that followed White's ace. Penn State finished off their comeback with a kill by Serena Gray and an attack error by the Spartans. Gray had three kills on .429 hitting in the set, while Hord hit .667 with four kills.
Penn State carried that momentum into the second set, opening with a 6-0 run. The Lions were aided by four attack errors by Michigan State, none of which came on blocks. That run gave the Lions an 18-3 advantage in points from the time they trailed 21-14 in the previous set. White led the blowout in set two, totaling eight digs and three aces.
The Lions led big for most of set three, including an 11-advantage at 19-8. Michigan State fought back to get as close as four, 22-18, but a kill by Gray eventually ended the match. The ball was initially ruled out, but the call was changed after a replay challenge by Penn State.
The balanced attack came with Gabby Blossom controlling the flow from her setter position as she dished out 34 assists in addition to nine digs. Emily Sciorra and Jenna Hampton added four digs apiece.
Penn State finished with eight aces and just three service errors. Gorrell had two and Gray chipped in with one.
Meredith Norris had a team-high nine kills for Michigan State, but it came on .071 hitting. The Spartans were held to .147 hitting as a team.
Penn State's next match is at Rec Hall, where it will host No. 17 Illinois on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The match will air live on the Big Ten Network. The Illini enter at 9-8 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten after a 3-2 loss to No. 6 Wisconsin and a 3-1 loss to No.7 Minnesota.
The 2019 Penn State women's volleyball season is presented by McLanahan's.