UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State men's volleyball team wasted little time in taking down Princeton in straight sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-7) Friday evening at Rec Hall to open their 2022 EIVA schedule.
It was Penn State's (6-3) first matchup with the Tigers (1-6) since 2020, which was also a Penn State win (3-1, Feb. 14, 2020).
Penn State pulled off the big win on its 2021 EIVA banner raising night as the Nittany Lions reflected on their league title from a season ago.
The Nittany Lions' senior pin hitters Brett Wildman and Cal Fisher led the scoring efforts for the home squad. Wildman had nine kills with four blocks and Fisher finished with eight kills plus a pair of aces.
Penn State's middle blockers also had great showings as senior Sam Marsh and sophomore Toby Ezeonu combined for 10 kills with just one error between them.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State reversed and won a net violation challenge, setting Penn State in an early 8-6 lead. A service ace by Michael Valenzi extended the Nittany Lions' lead to 12-7 forcing Princeton to call its first timeout. Penn State's four early blocks in the match held off Princeton's offense from getting ahold of the lead.
Toby Ezeonu recorded a 1.000 hitting percentage and three total blocks being a force at the net. Valenzi's second kill secured the first set win 25-18.
Princeton jumped to an early lead at 5-1, yet Cole Bogner's kill added momentum to Penn State's morale lessening the margin. Following a series of errors, Penn State called its first timeout at a four-point deficit.
The Nittany Lions won against Princeton's challenge, and the Tigers suffered from the wall of Ezeonu and Cal Fisher as the team was creeping its way back. Ezeonu's rocket of a kill tied up the score at 18-all resulting in Princeton calling its first timeout of the set.
Fisher scored his sixth kill to get Penn State the lead. Having inched its way back, Penn State came out on top winning the second set 25-22 due to Princeton's service error.
Entering the third set, back-to-back service aces from Fisher compelled Princeton to call an early timeout at 4-0. Penn State's dominating front line continued to create a larger lead and Princeton using its second timeout at 8-1.
Valenzi had a nine-point service run making the largest gap of the match at 13-2 from a collection of Princeton's errors. In his first collegiate appearance, Will Kuhns scored his first kill to conclude the third set 25-7.
MIKE ANDERSON MAN OF THE MATCH
Cal Fisher was named the Mike Anderson Player of the Match scoring eight kills, two service aces, and two total blocks. He also moved into sixth all-time on Penn State's career service ace list with 109.
MATCH NOTES AND STATS
- Penn State had seven aces to Princeton's one and outhit the Tigers .300-.016. Princeton hit -.435 in set three.
- During Valenzi's service run in the third, Penn State had three blocks plus an ace from the sophomore outside hitter.
- Cole Bogner had a good all-around night with 25 assists, a team-high five digs, and a season-high four blocks for the senior setter.
NEXT UP
Penn State hosts George Mason in its THON match Saturday evening at 7 p.m.