Volleyball: Women's
Penn State defeats No. 15 Minnesota in five sets
The No. 6 Penn State women's volleyball team defeated No. 15 Minnesota in five sets on Friday night.
Penn State's freshman setter Micha Hancock had three service aces in the match, tying then passing Noelle Zientara for Penn State's single season service aces record. Zientara set the record with 72 aces in 1988, but Hancock now holds the record with 73.
Penn State jumped out to a 2-0 set lead, largely on the strength of sophomore Ariel Scott's performance. Scott ended the match with 26 kills and four errors on 52 attacks.
However, Minnesota was able to come back and win the next two sets, evening the match at 2-2.
Minnesota's outside hitter Ashley Wittman was the main offensive threat for the Golden Gophers, enabling Minnesota to score enough points to come back in the match. Wittman hit .393, with 31 kills on 61 attacks, with seven errors.
With the match tied 2-2, the match went to a crucial fifth set. Penn State likely needed to win the match to keep pace with Nebraska, the leader in the Big Ten. Nebraska, ranked No. 2 in the nation, won tonight against Michigan to improve its record to 12-1 in the Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions managed to win the set, 15-12, and the match, improving their own Big Ten record to 11-2.
Apart from Scott, sophomore Deja McClendon also performed well for the Lions, hitting .357 with 23 kills on 56 attacks, with only three hitting errors.
Hancock also led her team in digs, with 18, as well as assists, with 58, in the five set match.
Penn State faces unranked Wisconsin at 2 p.m. Sunday.