When Nebraska was up 22-16 in set four (after absolutely crushing Penn State, 10-1, to erase a 15-12 Penn State lead), the analytics site Evollve gave the Nittany Lions a 0.3% chance of winning the match. That’s 3 chances in 1000.
Playing for each other and for their coach, Katie Schumacher-Cawley (who should have been AVCA National Coach of the Year, by the way), Penn State defied those odds and came up the winner in a reverse sweep 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 28-26, 15-13) that thrilled Penn State fans everywhere.
ESPN was so discombobulated (to be fair, it was nearly 1:00 a.m. ET) that it posted this (read the small print at the bottom — hint: Penn State wasn’t playing Wisconsin):
You can check out a video of the 4th set comeback and the complete 5th set, below (as well as a complete match video). Here’s Jess Mruzik, who put down a match-high 26 total kills (.300 hitting), and 12 digs in the match, including 6 kills on 8 attempts in Set 5:
Jess Mruzik interviewed after Nebraska match; photo by Ethan Kasales
Caroline Jurevicius attacking the Nebraska block as Gillian Grimes looks on (photo by Ethan Kasales)
Redshirt freshman Caroline Jurevicius — a transfer from Nebraska — had her second consecutive career match against the Huskers, with 20 kills and four blocks. She previously recorded a career-high 18 kills on .414 hitting when Penn State grabbed a share of the Big Ten title after its 3-1 win over Nebraska at Rec Hall.
With the win, Penn State moved to a 34-2 overall record.
Izzy Starck setting against Nebraska; photo by Ethan Kasales
More photos by Ethan Kasales from the Nebraska Match
Jess Mruzik and Gillian Grimes share a moment
(Quinn Menger with Coach Megan Hodge Easy)
Cam Hannah and Izzy Starck go undercover
Jess Mruzik attacks against Merritt Beason (13) and Andi Jackson (15)
