No. 15 Penn State Women’s Volleyball Outlasts No. 17 USC in Five-Set Thriller to Open Big Ten Play
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In a high-energy showdown at Rec Hall, No. 15 Penn State women’s volleyball kicked off Big Ten competition with a dramatic five-set victory over No. 17 USC, winning 3-2 (25-13, 25-22, 19-25, 19-25, 15-13) on Friday night. The Nittany Lions improved to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while the Trojans fell to 9-2 and 0-1 in the Big Ten.
Standout Performances
Kennedy Martin led the charge for Penn State, delivering a monster performance with a double-double: 29 kills and 13 digs. Emmi Sellman also posted a double-double, tallying 14 kills and 15 digs.
The Nittany Lions were sharp at the service line, recording seven aces. Martin and Gillian Grimes each had two, while Ava Falduto, Jordan Hopp, and Sellman added one apiece. Grimes also notched her seventh career kill, adding to her impact on the match.
Defensively, Penn State was relentless. All five players who recorded digs finished in double figures. Grimes led with 16, followed by Martin and Sellman. Falduto added 11, and Lyon contributed 10 digs along with 43 assists, earning her a double-double as well.
For USC, Adonia Faumuina and London Wijay combined for 21 kills, keeping the Trojans competitive throughout.
Set-by-Set Breakdown
Set 1
Penn State dominated from the outset, cruising to a 25-13 win. Two major scoring runs, including a 5-point burst led by Jurevicius and Martin, helped build a commanding lead. The Lions hit an impressive .542 as a team, with four players recording three or more kills.
Set 2
Martin was unstoppable, hitting .467 with nine kills. A 4-0 run fueled by her attacks gave Penn State a 16-12 edge. USC rallied to tie it at 20-20, but Penn State closed strong with a 3-0 run and a set-winning kill from Sellman.
Set 3
USC responded with a 25-19 win, surviving a late Penn State rally. The Trojans surged ahead with a 6-0 run to lead 16-6. Penn State clawed back with a 7-0 run, but USC sealed the set with a final 3-0 push, aided by three aces and eight blocks.
Set 4
USC kept the momentum, winning 25-19. A 7-0 run gave the Trojans an 11-5 lead, and Penn State couldn’t close the gap beyond four points. Five USC players had three or more kills in the set.
Set 5
Martin took over in the decisive set, hitting .412 with eight kills. Penn State jumped ahead 6-3, but USC answered with a 4-0 run. With the score tied, Martin delivered on Penn State’s final seven points, including the match-winning kill.
🎯 Career Milestone
- Lexi Gin recorded her first career assist.
📅 Up Next
Penn State continues Big Ten action on Sunday at noon, hosting UCLA. Catch the match live on the B1G Network.
SOURCE CREDIT: https://gopsusports.com/news
