EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 12 Penn State made quick work of Michigan State in a Big Ten women's volleyball match Saturday at the Jenison Field House, sweeping the Spartans 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-14) to improve to 8-5 overall and 8-5 in the conference. Michigan State, which was competing for the first time since Feb. 21, dropped to 2-8, 2-8.
After starting the season with a challenging schedule that included numerous matches against in a short period of time against some of the best teams in the nation, the Nittany Lions have reeled off four straight wins. They have won each of their last 11 sets.
Guided by 31 assists from setter Gabby Blossom, Penn State hit .344 as a team, including .500 in the first set and .400 in the third. The Lions hit just .171 in set two but still managed to cruise to the 25-17 win.
Penn State had four players hit better than .330 with at least eight kills, led in kills by Serena Gray with nine on .438 hitting. Kaitlyn Hord led the team in hitting percentage at .583 with eight kills. Jonni Parker and Anastasiya Kudryashova also had eight kills apiece while hitting .353 and .333, respectively.
The Lions held the Spartans to .082 hitting while recording seven blocks. They received solo blocks from Gray, Kudryashova and Blossom.
Penn State tacked on three points at the service line as Molly Russell, Gray and Jenna Hampton each had one ace. Russell's ace was the first of her career.
Hampton led the defensive effort with an impressive 15 in the three-set match. Blossom and Parker contributed with seven and six digs, apiece. Maddy Bilinovic added four digs, while Macall Peed was right behind her with four.
It was a dominant performance by Penn State, which didn't trail at any point of any of the three sets. The Lions opened the second set with a 5-0 run, all with Blossom at the service line.
Penn State upped its winning streak to 12 straight matches in the series with Michigan State. The Lions have won 15 straight matches against the Spartans in East Lansing.
The Lions and Spartans will run it back with a match on Saturday at 6 p.m. It will stream on Big Ten Network+.
