The Nittany Lions lose a tough 5 set match against Michigan, 25-21, 21-25, 28-26, 22-25, 12-15. Kennedy Martin led all scorers with 33.5 points off of 27 kills, 4 aces and 5 block assists but also an uncharacteristic 13 hitting errors. Pin hitters Alexis Ewing finished with a career-high trying 12k, 1 solo block while Emmi Sellman pitched in 11 kills, 2 blocks in the effort against the Wolverines. The Michigan defense held the team to a meager 0.177 hitting percentage with a total of 44 errors (32 attack errors and 12 serving errors) and led to the Nittany Lions 4th loss in the conference.
Unfortunately, Halloween wasn’t the only thing spooky tonight, the Nittany Lions were haunted by the play of Allison Jacobs and Ella Demetrician who scored a combined 38 points in addition to the 44 total errors the Nittany Lions committed. Kennedy Martin led the team with 34.5 points (27k, 4 aces and 7 blocks) but with 13 hitting errors, she was limited to a 0.200 hitting percentage. She was backed up by standout freshmen, Gabbi Nichols (13 points, 8k, 8 blocks) and Alexis Ewing (13 points, 12k, 1 block) – who suited up in the place of outside Caroline Jurevicius who was not suited to play today. Emmi Sellman had a good match pitching in 11 kills, 2 blocks with a 0.320 hitting percentage. Gillian Grimes led the team with 16 digs in addition to 2 service aces while Addie Lyon led the team in assists with 47. Ultimately the team was held to a 0.177 hitting percentage led by Michigan’s tough defense (Michigan out dug PSU 76-64).
With the loss, Penn State falls to 13-8 overall, 7-4 in the B1G while Michigan goes up to 15-7 overall, 5-6 in the B1G. The Nittany Lions will try to bounce back with a top-25 match up against #24 Indiana on Sunday in Rec Hall.
Post-Match Press Conference
After the match, Emmi Sellman kindly met for exclusive interviews with DigNittany’s Ethan Kasales. Below is the transcript of those interviews, lightly edited for length and clarity:
Emmi Sellman
Ethan Kasales: What were some of the things that you thought Michigan did particularly well tonight?
Emmi Sellman: I thought they were extremely efficient on the offensive side of the ball, in and out of system. They were picking really good shots to take against us. So yeah, I think they really capitalized on those moments a lot.
Ethan Kasales: Conversely, what were some of the things that maybe didn’t go so well for you guys tonight?
Emmi Sellman: I think just we got to be better about the ups and downs. I think when we are playing at our level the entire time, like we’re a really good team, but we’re just having moments where we’re just breaking focus, and that just can’t happen.
Ethan Kasales: It seemed like you were seeing the block a little more clearly tonight. Things were more efficient for you. What was going well for you?
Emmi Sellman: Credit to my setters, Addie and out-of-system balls. I think we’ve all just been getting better and better myself. I think I can’t give any credit to anybody except for them, because they are the ones who are giving me the perfect ball.
Ethan Kasales: How would you describe your work ethic off the court?
Emmi Sellman: I think the whole team has a very strong work ethic. But I think we’ve talked about things that we want to improve and that we will use that work ethic to improve, especially coming up against we have a big match against Indiana.
Ethan Kasales: You seem to bring a lot of energy. How important is that to bring that to the team?
Emmi Sellman: I think energy is always important no matter who you’re playing against, no matter what the situation is. So as much as I can do that, I’m going to, but our whole team does a good job of doing that.
Ethan Kasales: What impressed you about (Allison) Jacobs and (Ella) Demetrician tonight?
Emmi Sellman: I think they’re two really, really good outsides, just on both sides of all offensively and defensively.
Ethan Kasales: What are some things that you’ve learned from the coaching staff this year that you’ve been able to apply to your game?
Emmi Sellman: The fight and the privilege it is to wear a Penn State Jersey, and I think, like, that’s just huge. Like, this was my dream school coming here. So I think playing here and having that on my jersey, like they remind us that every day, we’ve got to honor that.
Ethan Kasales: What’s it like interacting with some Penn state volleyball alums?
Emmi Sellman: It’s awesome. We have really good alumni base at Penn State, so it’s been really cool to see them, and especially two of them being our coaches.
Ethan Kasales: What do you kind of view your role as a leader moving forward, and what do you want to see from the team?
Emmi Sellman: We have this huge goal and huge opportunity in front of us, and I think I just want our team to, like, go out and get it.
Ethan Kasales: Is there anything this season that’s kind of surprised you about how the team has performed? Maybe some of the inconsistency?
Emmi Sellman: No, you know, playing in the Big 10 is hard. There’s a lot of really good Big 10 teams, and every game that we play is going to be tough. And I think we knew that, and we were expecting that. So just we can all we can just focus forward.
Ethan Kasales: What are some things you enjoy most about being around your teammates?
Emmi Sellman: Just how badly everybody wants to win and represent Penn State, I think it’s just a culture that’s very hard to come by, and it’s been awesome.
Ethan Kasales: What were some of the big things about Penn State that made you want to come here?
Emmi Sellman: Like I said, the dominance that this program has had. I mean, look at all the national championships, and the players they produce, it’s just incredible. And you know, being closer to home is also nice as well.
Ethan Kasales: Gabrielle had eight blocks tonight. What impressed you about her?
Emmi Sellman: I think what impresses me about her the most is that every time that her number is called, she comes in and takes over no matter what. I think that comes with her play, but also with her leadership, even as a freshman, like every time she comes in the game, she’s talking and directing and just helping out in that role as well. So it’s been really impressive.
Ethan Kasales: What are some things you like about Alexis?
Emmi Sellman: Same things. You know, I think two freshmen coming in and being able to have the impact that they’ve had is huge. So really proud of the two of them, and it helps that they’re like best friends. So it’s good to see.
Ethan Kasales: What are some things you really want the team to focus on the rest of the season?
Emmi Sellman: I think, just like starting games on time, but then also finishing them. Like, I feel like that’s been our biggest issue is rather starting late, or we’re starting on time and then just not being able to finish. So that would be my goal.
Ethan Kasales: I want to ask you a little bit about your volleyball background. How were you introduced to the game?
Emmi Sellman: My dad actually introduced me to volleyball. He played. My mom played a little bit. But yeah, I was actually a gymnast for a while, and then once I quit because I was too tall, they told me to try volleyball, so I gave it a try.
Ethan Kasales: Where did he (her dad) play?
Emmi Sellman: Just for fun. He didn’t play in college, but he did a lot of like beach tournaments and doubles and stuff like that. So definitely got me into that. And then I had a lot of really incredible people do a lot for me and allow me to be able to play, especially as a little kid, I had a lot of friends’ parents who would let me play with their adult league and stuff like that.
Ethan Kasales: How long did you do gymnastics for?
Emmi Sellman: I want to say probably, like seven years. I did it for a while. That was my goal. Before I grew. I really wanted to be great at that. And then, of course, height plays factor.
Ethan Kasales: So when did you have your growth spurt?
Emmi Sellman: I grew pretty late. So I would say, like, maybe 13. I started really growing and putting on a lot of inches height wise.
Ethan Kasales: Does gymnastics kind of help you adjust in the air and kind of contort your body a little bit?
Emmi Sellman: Yeah, I think, I definitely think the reaction time and stuff like that. But also, the focus that gymnastics takes is something that I don’t know, a lot of people realize – it’s very hard as a sport, just in and of itself. But I think that background, especially doing it like as a kid, really kind of powered me to have that focus.
Ethan Kasales: Did you have to change positions at all in volleyball to outside hitter from something else?
Emmi Sellman: I was actually in middle, yeah, when I first started, I was left handed as well.
Ethan Kasales: Really, you changed your hand?
Emmi Sellman: Yeah, I did. And I was in within my first year, I switched to that, and then I ended up playing a little bit of middle back as a middle at one of our tournaments. And then they were just like you should display outside.
Ethan Kasales: How do you think having that diverse background has helped you as an outside?
Emmi Sellman: Just learning different shots. I think, I think it went like that in beach volleyball as well. I tried to get myself into it. I feel like playing middle is a lot of blocking, and about 90% of your responsibilities is to be able to block. So I hope that that’s translating.
Ethan Kasales: I read somewhere that you want to be a veterinarian. Is that still the plan?
Emmi Sellman: No, unfortunately, that was my goal, until I played my first season and was like, Oh, wow, this is too much. Yeah, if I didn’t play, I would have loved to do that. But unfortunately, no.
Ethan Kasales: What do you think you want to study then?
Emmi Sellman: So right now, I’m in health policy and administration, and I’m minoring in entrepreneurship and innovation. So really, with my two things going to college were like somewhat medical related, but also somewhat business related, and I feel like HB has a really good combination of the two. And then the minor with, with the entrepreneurship and innovation also kind of ties into the business as well.
Ethan Kasales: Do you have goals to play volleyball professionally down the road?
Emmi Sellman: Yeah, I think that that’s my biggest goal is to have a professional career. So again, I’m just blessed to play this game, and I’m excited for the future.
Ethan Kasales: What are some things you admire about people like Jess (Mruzik) and some of the other outsides who have come through Penn State.
Emmi Sellman: Jess (Mruzik) was an incredibly dominant hitter, and I think, like she inspires me, Meg (Hodge) too she inspires me to want to be that dominant as well. Watching them win that national championship, right after I had committed, was extremely inspiring.
Ethan Kasales: Describe this. Support you guys get for academics off the court?
Emmi Sellman: Oh, yeah, it’s huge. We’re so spoiled at Penn State, with tutors and academic advisors who are available to meet with us whenever we need so, yeah, super spoiled.
Ethan Kasales: We have the new Greenberg sports complex, what’s that been like? Have you had the chance to check that out?
Emmi Sellman: That’s incredible. I can’t put it in towards how much that’s meant for us, because, you are what you eat in terms of how you can play. And I think we’re now getting all these really healthy meals that are fueling us to play. So that’s huge. But also the recovery part, all that you need is there.
Ethan Kasales: what’s your relationship like with your fellow Captains, Jordan (Hopp) and Gill (Grimes)?
Emmi Sellman: The two of them were really welcoming to me when I first came in, especially Jordan, because she was my roommate. So we are very close, and we’re really excited for the next upcoming games, because we want to continue to grow, you know, not only as captains, but as a team.
Ethan Kasales: What are some of the things about Kennedy’s game that really just make you go like, “Wow, that’s incredible”?
Emmi Sellman: I think she’s a dominant player, and I think that she just has a good mentality going into every game of just wanting to destroy whoever we’re playing. So I think that’s been really impressive.