COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 9 Penn State Men's Volleyball posted a win over the No. 1 team in the nation for the second-straight season with a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 31-29) victory over No. 1 Ohio State on Thursday night at the Covelli Center.
The Nittany Lions improved to 5-2 on the season, while the Buckeyes dipped to 6-1 with their first loss. It will be a quick rematch between the teams as they meet up at Rec Hall on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Each of Penn State's two recent wins over the top-ranked team in the nation came on the road. The Nittany Lions took down No. 1 Hawaii on its home floor during last season's Outrigger Challenge in Honolulu.
Toby Ezeonu helped power Penn State to the upset win, racking up 14 kills on .500 hitting in addition to three blocks. Michael Valenzi had his best match of the season on the outside, hitting .379 with 13 kills, two aces and six digs. Joining the pair with double-digit kills were John Kerr with 12 and Michal Kowal with 10. The Nittany Lions hit .341 as a team behind 43 assists from Michael Schwob.
Penn State was strong defensively, as well, holding Ohio State to .215 hitting. It was a team effort with Owen Rose leading at the net with four blocks and Kerr finishing off his first career double-double with a career-high 12 digs. Ryan Merk was right behind him with 10 digs.
Daniel Hurley led Ohio State with 17 kills on .333 hitting. Ben Putnam recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.
It was the 142nd meeting in the series history between Penn State and Ohio State. The Nittany Lions improved to 81-40-1.
Set 1
Ezeonu started strong with six kills on six swings to lead Penn State to a 25-21 win in the opening set. Kowal and Rose were each perfect on their two swings. The set featured 17 ties and six lead changes. It was tied as late as 21-21 before the Nittany Lions finished it off with a 4-0 run. Valenzi started the run with a kill, while Ezeonu capped it with back-to-back kills.
Set 2
Ohio State bounced back with a 25-21 win of its own in set two. Hurley led the way with four kills on five attacks, overcoming four kills apiece by Ezeonu and Kerr. The Buckeyes scored the first point on a Penn State service error and led the rest of the way.
Set 3
This time Penn State led nearly the entire set on its way to a 25-19 win and a 2-1 lead in the match. The Nittany Lions went up 2-1 on a block by Rose and Valenzi, which was part of a 4-0 run, and never relinquished the lead. Their biggest lead of the set came at 22-15 after an Ohio State attack error. Set point was eventually scored on a kill by Ezeonu.
Set 4
Ohio State started fast with a 5-0 run, but Penn State fought back to get the 29-27 win to clinch the match. The Nittany Lions chipped away until a 5-0 run gave them their first lead at 17-16. Kowal sparked the run with a kill and two blocks. The Buckeyes took control again with a two-point lead at 23-21, but Penn State was again ready for the challenge and tied it at 23-23 with back-to-back kills by Valenzi and Kerr. The Nittany Lions staved off three Ohio State chances at set point with kills by Valenzi, Ezeonu and Kowal. Their first chance at match point came at 27-26 but was denied by the Buckeyes with a kill by Ben Putnam. Kowal and Valenzi came through in the clutch with kills on the next two points to give the Nittany Lions the big win.
Career Highs
John Kerr – digs (12)
Up Next
No. 9 Penn State hosts No. 1 Ohio State on Sunday at 3 p.m.
