Penn State dropped its second straight match (after losing on Sunday 3-1 to Arizona State), this time 3-2 (19-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-19, 12-15) to #24-ranked TCU.
The Horned Frogs thoroughly outplayed Penn State in the first two sets, taking a 2 sets-to-none lead in the match. The tide seemed to turn in Set 3, which may or may not have been related to two player changes in that set.
TCU’s #5 Jalyn Gibson left with what appeared to be a painful injury. Though she only had 4 kills at the time, with 3 errors (.062 hitting percentage), she had totaled 3 service aces, 1 block, and 10 digs. So she had played an important role in TCU’s success to that point.
For Penn State, Fr. MB Gabrielle Nichols, who had some playing time in Set 2, replaced MB Maggie Mendelson (no points in the match) for all of Set 3 and the remainder of the match. In her 4 sets, Nichols totaled 4 kills on 6 attempts with 1 attack error (.500 hitting percentage), 1 solo block (the only one recorded by the Nittany Lions), 3 block assists, and 6.5 points. She had a definite impact on Penn State’s play.
Gabrielle Nichols attacking in a scrimmage
Whatever the reason, Penn State rallied, taking Set 3 25-20, and Set 4 25-19. But the momentum died in Set 5, as the Nittany Lions fell behind 11-4 (having 10 errors in the Set, hitting -.074 might have had something to do with that), before rallying to close the gap to two points at 11-9. TCU regrouped, pulling ahead to a 14-10 lead. After a service error by TCU, and the solo block by Nichols, Penn State was down 14-12. Then the error-bug struck again, as Starck missed her serve, for the 15-12 Set 5 win by the Horned Frogs.
Once again, Kennedy Martin was outstanding. She totaled a match-high 21 kills (next highest was 14 kills by TCU’s Evan Hendrix), 1 ace, 4 total blocks, 15 digs (2nd on the team to Izzy Starck’s 16 digs), and a match-high 24 points (Hendrix was 2nd with 17.5 points). But again, it wasn’t enough. Penn State hit an abysmal .136 as a team (TCU hit .185 — also not very good, but better than the Nittany Lions).
Clearly, Penn State has alot to work out. Fortunately, they’re heading home for the next nine matches. Unfortunately, five of those will be against nationally-ranked teams. We’re optimistic that Coach Katie and staff will coach the team up, and that it will be a formidable group by season’s end. In the near term, fans are advised to buckle up.
Complete match stats are below the Post-Match Press Conference and match highlights videos.
Post-Match Press Conference
Match Highlights
Box Score
Match Details
TCU
Penn St.
Set
K
E
TA
%
K
E
TA
%
1
12
4
35
0.229
11
5
33
0.182
2
14
4
26
0.385
10
6
25
0.160
3
13
7
33
0.182
10
3
25
0.280
4
10
7
35
0.086
11
7
30
0.133
5
2
2
17
0.000
8
10
27
-0.074
Total
51
24
146
0.185
50
31
140
0.136
TCU
Penn St.
Points
73
65
Kills
51
50
Aces
11
4
Blocks
11
11
Assists
46
49
Digs
52
61
Match Leaders
TCU – Leaders
Kills
Evan Hendrix (14), Becca Kelley (13), Sarah Sylvester (9)
Aces
Jalyn Gibson (3), Evan Hendrix (2), Alice Volpe (2), Ella Foti (2)
Blocks
Alexis Roberson (6), Lauren Murphy (5), Sarah Sylvester (5)
Assists
Rosemary Archer (26), Ella Foti (16), Alice Volpe (3)
Digs
Alice Volpe (15), Jalyn Gibson (10), Evan Hendrix (9)
Penn St. – Leaders
Kills
Kennedy Martin (21), Emmi Sellman (10), Caroline Jurevicius (8)
Aces
Izzy Starck (2), Emmi Sellman (1), Kennedy Martin (1)
Blocks
Jordan Hopp (7), Gabrielle Nichols (4), Izzy Starck (4), Kennedy Martin (4)
Assists
Izzy Starck (41), Ava Falduto (3), Gillian Grimes (3)
Digs
Izzy Starck (17), Kennedy Martin (15), Gillian Grimes (13)
