Siena (19-5) was scrappy, but after the first set, which Penn State (31-3) won 25-17, it really wasn’t much of a contest, as the Nittany Lions took the next two sets 25-10 and 25-5 to kick off their 2014 NCAA tournament with a sweep. The win sets up a 2nd round match with Dayton (30-5) tonight at Rec Hall at 7:30 p.m. The match will be streamed live on BTN2 with GameTracker coverage.
5-11 Sr. setter Micha Hancock directed Penn State to a .415 team attack % and, with seven service aces (giving her 116 for the season), broke the B1G’s season service ace record, which had been set in 1989 by Sharon Oesterling of Minnesota.
Several other Nittany Lions turned in outstanding performances, led by 6-3 Fr. MH Haleigh Washington’s .900 attack % (9 kills) and match-high blocks. 6-4 RS Jr. Opp/RS Aiyana Whitney registered 8 kills (.312attack %), 6-2 Sr. MH Nia Grant totaled 6 kills (.545 attack %), 6-1 Fr. OH Simone Lee added spark off the bench with 6 kills (.364 attack %), and 6-1 Fr. OH Ali Frantti registered 5 kills.
