Middle blockers Allie Holland and Katie Clark led the Nittany Lions (18-6, 7-6 Big Ten) with 14 and 13 kills, respectively. Holland paced Penn State’s defense with seven total blocks, tying Maryland’s Anastasia Russ, while Clark hit .524 with only two attack errors.
Maryland star Rainelle Jones, one of the best blockers in the country, was in street clothes on the bench and did not play against the Nittany Lions. Sam Csire led the Terrapins with a match-high 15 kills. Maryland (13-12, 4-9 Big Ten) outblocked Penn State 11-9, but the Nittany Lions finished with a 5-2 advantage in aces.
The Terrapins staved off a sweep and extended the match thanks to a strong third set that featured a .312 hitting percentage. Maryland hit above .300 again in the fourth set, but the Nittany Lions were able to close things out.
Zoe Weatherington and Kash Williams joined Holland and Clark in double figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Alexa Markley added eight kills and Anjelina Starck terminated all four swings for four kills in the win. Leisa Elisaia had a match-high 52 assists, 10 digs, two kills, and two blocks.
The Nittany Lions hit .268 as a team, including an impressive fourth set that saw them hit .444 with only two attack errors. It was easily Penn State’s best set offensively Wednesday night. Cassie Kuerschen and Gillian Grimes led Penn State with 13 digs apiece, while junior libero Maddy Bilinovic added 12 of her own.
The Nittany Lions will next travel to Rutgers (7-17, 1-11 Big Ten) for a rematch against the Scarlet Knights Sunday at 12 p.m. in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers will first host Iowa this Friday. Penn State swept the Scarlet Knights on October 23 in Rec Hall.
Editor’s note:Penn State surprisingly did not hold a post-match press conference, so there are no quotes from Katie Schumacher-Cawley or the players.
Box Score
Match Details
Maryland
Penn St.
Set
K
E
TA
%
K
E
TA
%
1
11
5
31
0.194
13
8
36
0.139
2
11
7
28
0.143
16
6
38
0.263
3
13
3
32
0.313
16
7
39
0.231
4
16
4
36
0.333
18
2
36
0.444
Total
51
19
127
0.252
63
23
149
0.268
Maryland
Penn St.
Points
64
77
Kills
51
63
Aces
2
5
Blocks
11
9
Assists
49
60
Digs
48
52
Match Leaders
Maryland – Leaders
Kills
Sam Csire (15), Laila Ivey (11), Gem Grimshaw (8)
Aces
Sam Csire (1), Gem Grimshaw (1)
Blocks
Anastasia Russ (7), Ellie Watson (3), Sydney Dowler (3), Sam Csire (3), Gem Grimshaw (3)
Assists
Sydney Dowler (41), Milan Gomillion (4), Erin Engel (1), Sam Csire (1), Lexy Finnerty (1), Maddie Naumann (1)
Digs
Milan Gomillion (15), Sydney Dowler (12), Lexy Finnerty (6)
Penn St. – Leaders
Kills
Allie Holland (14), Katie Clark (13), Zoe Weatherington (12)
Aces
Maddy Bilinovic (2), Gillian Grimes (1), Cassie Kuerschen (1), Allie Holland (1)
Blocks
Allie Holland (7), Zoe Weatherington (4), Katie Clark (2), Seleisa Elisaia (2)
Assists
Seleisa Elisaia (52), Maddy Bilinovic (4), Cassie Kuerschen (2)
Digs
Gillian Grimes (13), Cassie Kuerschen (13), Maddy Bilinovic (12)
