No. 4-seeded Penn State women’s volleyball (24-7, Big Ten 13-7) defeated the UMBC Retrievers (17-8) in straight sets (25-14, 25-17, 25-12) on Friday night at Rec Hall in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
How It Happened
Gillian Grimes got things going with a service ace and Penn State continued on a 5-0 scoring run, which prompted an early timeout from UMBC. Coming off of the timeout, the Retrievers were able to score a few points, including one from a service ace. The Nittany Lions had no trouble staying ahead, forcing UMBC’s second timeout of the set as the Retrievers trailed 12-4.
Back-to-back kills from Zoe Weatherington stretched Penn State’s lead to double digits, 16-6. UMBC used a challenge card, claiming that there was a touch on the ball by a Nittany Lion. The touch was confirmed, and the point was given to the Retrievers.
Penn State, though held on to a comfortable lead and two service aces from Anjelina Stark helped the Nittany Lions to wrap up set one 25-14.
On just the second play of set two, Penn State challenged a touch called on the ball. The call was overturned and Penn State got the point for an early 2-0 lead. UMBC took its first timeout as the Nittany Lions extended their lead to five.
Each time they came out of a timeout, the Retrievers returned to the court with a vengeance. UMBC went on a 3-0 scoring run and followed it up with some perfectly placed kills, nearly closing in on the Nittany Lions as they trailed just 11-9.
Penn State regained its footing and extended the lead to 17-11, prompting UMBC’s second timeout of the set. The Nittany Lions continued a 5-0 scoring run, but UMBC answered with one of its own to narrow the deficit to 20-15. A double block from Penn State’s Allie Holland and Seleisa Elisaia brought up set point, and a UMBC service error finished it off 25-17.
UMBC started to get comfortable in the third set and took its first lead of the entire evening, 3-1. The Nittany Lions, however, answered with a 6-0 scoring run to pull back in front.
Yet another service ace from Penn State increased the lead to 14-6, making the Retrievers early advantage a distant memory. Katie Clark was back in action in the third set, tallying three kills to help increase the Nittany Lions’ lead to 21-9. With a double block from Alexa Markley and Holland, Penn State secured its ticket to round two of the NCAA Tournament.
Player of the Game | Allie Holland
Allie Holland played an impressive game all across the court, racking up a total of seven kills and eight blocks, the highest of the night. Holland also maintained a .462 hitting percentage across three sets, the second-highest percentage of the evening.
What’s Next
Penn State will return to Rec Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday to face UCF in the second round of NCAA Tournament play.
