STATE COLLEGE — Penn State women’s volleyball is still dancing. The Nittany Lions defeated Delaware State and UNC in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament to move on to the round of 16.
Penn State started the tournament with a dominant 3-0 sweep over Delaware State. The Hornets had no answer for the likes of Camryn Hannah and Jess Mruzik.
Hannah hit .55 throughout the match, totaling a match-high of 11 kills. Her four kills in the first and second set helped the Nittany Lions gain an early lead. Mruzik also joined Hannah with double digit kills, recording 10.
Penn State’s serving was another difference maker as the Nittany Lions had 12 aces in the match.
One day later, Penn State faced North Carolina, led by former Penn State assistant coach Mike Schall. Like the last match, this one took place in Happy Valley.
Mruzik and Hannah once again led the way for the Nittany Lions, dominating in the air. Mruzik recorded 21 kills, eight more than the second highest in the match. Izzy Starck also had 41 assists.
The first two sets were all Penn State, but a lapse in energy in the third set meant UNC took one back to make it 2-1. The Nittany Lions took away any Tar Heel hope, though, dominating the fourth set 25-15.
Penn State is now preparing to face No. 5-seeded Marquette in the third round of the tournament on Friday, Dec. 13, 30 minutes after the Texas and Creighton game taking place at 1 p.m. Both matches will take place at Rec Hall.
Marquette went 25-8 this season, falling in the Big East Tournament 3-0 to Creighton. In a match against Big Ten foe Wisconsin the Golden Eagle’s lost 1-3. Penn State beat the Badgers 3-0.
