PHOENIX, Ariz. – Penn State’s Matthew Luoma put together a strong showing while playing in his home city, but it wasn’t enough as the Nittany Lions fell 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-20) to No. 15 Grand Canyon in a non-conference men’s volleyball match Sunday night at Global Credit Union Arena.
Luoma, who returned to the court after a three-match absence due to injury, led Penn State with 14 kills and added seven digs and one ace. His former high school, Mountain Pointe, is just 22 miles from Global Credit Union Arena.
Penn State dropped to 5-10 overall with eight of the 10 losses coming to nationally-ranked opponents. Grand Canyon upped its record to 11-5.
Will Kuhns joined Luoma in double-digits with 10 kills in addition to his six digs and two aces. Ryan Merk and Josh Rosenblum paced the defensive effort with eight digs apiece. Rosenblum made his first career start and tallied 30 assists and three blocks. Gaige Gabriel was strong at the net with a career-high seven blocks.
Trent Moser hit .333 with 13 kills to lead a trio of Antelopes in double-digits. Jarrett Anderson and Karter Rogers totaled 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
Grand Canyon evened the all-time series with Penn State at 2-2.
Set 1
Luoma racked up six kills and Kuhns had five on .833 hitting, but Grand Canyon overcame their efforts to get a 25-22 win in the opening set. The Antelopes led by as much as six at 16-10 after going on a 3-0 run. The Nittany Lions eventually clawed their way back to as close as two at 21-19 after a 3-0 run of their own that was capped with an ace by Kuhns. They got back within two again at 24-22 thanks to back-to-back points with a kill by Kuhns and a block by Rosenblum and Owen Rose. Anderson responded with a kill for set point for the Antelopes.
Set 2
Penn State came up just short, 25-23, in the second set despite six kills on .417 hitting by Luoma. Grand Canyon countered with five kills on .833 hitting from Moser. The Antelopes were the first to 10 as they took a four-point lead on a Penn State attack error. The Nittany Lions eventually battled back to tie the score at 13-all following a kill by Luoma and a block by Luoma and Gabriel. The Antelopes went on a 3-0 run after that and led the rest of the way. The Nittany Lions got within one point five different times but couldn’t get the clutch play to tie it. The last of those times was at 24-23 after a bad set by Grand Canyon. Anderson again closed the set with a kill.
Set 3
Grand Canyon hit .324 with 17 kills as it closed the match with a 25-20 win in the third set. Penn State fell behind 18-11 but made a valiant comeback attempt. The Nittany Lions got within one at 19-18 thanks to a 4-0 run. The run was highlighted by a triple block by Kuhns, Rosenblum, and Gabriel to make it 19-17. A block by Gabriel and Rosenblum pulled the Nittany Lions within one again at 20-19. The Antelopes scored five of the final six points to finish off the sweep.
Career Highs
Gaige Gabriel – blocks (7)
Matthew Luoma – digs (7)
Josh Rosenblum – assists (30), digs (8), blocks (3)
Up Next
No. 19 Penn State heads to Honolulu for the Outrigger Challenge, where it will take on No. 5 USC, No. 3 Hawaii, and No. 12 Ball State.