Penn State Volleyball: No. 14 Ohio State upsets No. 6 PSU

Coach Pavlik believes each season has its own natural rhythms.

No. 14 Ohio State’s 3-1 (25-30, 30-20, 27-30, 23-30) upset of No. 6 Penn State Men’s Volleyball today at the Bryce Jordan Center was the end of a positive ‘rhythm’ for the Lions.

“Everything leading up to this match today indicated we were right where we want to be,” said Penn State head coach Mark Pavlik. “We laid an egg today.

“Lets get back and fix it.”

The Lions (16-4) were coming off wins over No. 6 Long Beach and No. 11 UC Irvine going into the match, but were unable to maintain the same rhythm against Ohio State (13-7).

“We just didn’t play well,” said Penn State senior Will Price. “We make big strides against good teams and then that’s the effort we accomplish. It’s just embarrassing.”

Penn State senior Max Lipsitz and sophomore Joe Sunder ended the match with 15 and 14 kills respectively. Ohio State sophomore Shawn Sangrey had a .190 percentage, but 19 kills in the match.

“He just kind of chiseled away at our block,” said Pavlik. “He was one of the guys who made the most of the opportunities he was given for second or third chances.”

The two teams traded leads early in the first set. Six kills by junior Jason Tobkin and five by Sangrey would help Ohio State pull away.

“Ohio State made the most out of its opportunities,” said Pavlik. “I think that is where the difference in kills came from.”

Penn State gained some momentum in the second set. Five kills by both Lipsitz and Sunders helped the lions even out the match at 1-1.

“We needed to get back to being aggressive with or serving,” said Ohio State head coach Pete Hanson. “(Lipsitz) that is an All-American.”

Ohio State would lead most of the third set. Three points by Lipsitz would bring the score to 27-28, but two straight points and a kill by junior John Klanac would give Ohio State a 2-1 lead.

“We really struggle with the float serve,” said Hanson. “Edgardo (Goas) got that big run in game two and kind of got that lead and we couldn’t overcome it.”

“When we got back to game three we got a little lead and maybe that changed his mindset.”

Ohio State would have control over the fourth set.

Two straight aces by Tobkin put the Buckeyes up 24-16. The Lions would have a last effort three point run, but would still end up losing 30-23.

“We tried to fight back and we just couldn’t get it going,” said Lipsitz. “We tried to manufacture energy and it’s hard.

“It was like fighting a losing battle.”

The loss would be the first in Rec Hall for the Lions since UCLA beat them 3-0 during the 2006 NCAA National Championship.

“I could not tell you the last time Ohio State came in here and won a match against Penn State,” said Hanson. “We have needed to have beat a quality team this year and we haven’t gotten it done.”

Penn State will play Juniata on Tuesday. Price hopes when Penn State returns to Happy Valley to play Princeton on Friday the atmosphere will be more positive.

“Our team was dead; the whole gym was dead,” said Price. “I don’t know if its Penn State fans are more respectful.”

“I don’t think we gave them much to cheer about,” added Lipsitz.