UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's volleyball had a day to remember Friday at Rec Hall.
It started with a press conference and signing of Olivia Peters to the squad through the Team IMPACT program. Olivia was presented with a Penn State volleyball jersey with her favorite number (10) and given a spot in the team's locker room.
It culminated with an exhibition match between Penn State and pro players from Athletes Unlimited in front of more than 1,100 fans. Two Penn State legends were welcomed back to Rec Hall with Athletes Unlimited – three-time national champion Alisha Glass Childress and two-time national champion Deja McClendon. Olivia was announced as a team member to the crowd in between the first and second sets.
Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country. Their mission is to guide children and teams alike in a mutually beneficial relationship of belonging, empowerment, and resilience.
Players wore yellow ribbons in their hair during the match, doing so for Olivia as that is her favorite color.
Childress and McClendon received a huge ovation from the crowd during pre-match introductions. They received an even larger ovation at the start of set three when they returned to the court in Penn State jerseys to once again play with the Nittany Lions.
The match itself was fun and exciting for both teams as they battled to a 2-2 draw. The teams traded set wins with Athletes Unlimited taking set one 25-22 and set four 25-23. Penn State won the middle sets 25-20 and 25-21.
Numerous players had big nights for Penn State. Zoe Weatherington led the team with 15 kills and five blocks while hitting .379. Anjelina Starck hit .522 with 12 kills. The team's middles excelled as Allie Holland hit .368 with nine kills and seven blocks and Taylor Trammell hit .471 with eight kills and six blocks. Alexa Markley added nine kills.
Quinn Menger made the start at setter and put together a solid performance with 27 assists, five digs, and two kills. Childress had 20 assists and seven digs for the Lions in the final two sets after totaling 16 assists and five digs while playing the first two sets with Athletes Unlimited.
McClendon hit .400 with eight kills and six digs for Athletes Unlimited and then added six digs and two blocks while donning the Penn State No. 18 jersey, the same number she wore during her college days.
Maddy Bilinovic and Gillian Grimes both saw time at libero for Penn State. Bilinovic led the team with eight digs, while Grimes had five.
All 10 players on the Penn State spring roster saw the court. Cassie Kuerschen matched Grimes with five digs. Macy Van Den Elzen had one kill on her two swings.
The night concluded with an autograph session for the fans that included both Penn State and Athletes Unlimited players.
