No. 4 Penn State Rallies Past Huskies In Four

Sunday, November 24

University Park, PA

11:00 AM

University of Washington

19-9,9-9Big Ten

Penn State

27-2,17-1Big Ten

Washington

Penn St.

November 24, 2024 | Volleyball

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By: UW Athletic Communications

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Washington played some of its best volleyball at times today at No. 4 Penn State, but couldn't sustain it for long enough stretches to give the Nittany Lions (27-2, 17-1 Big Ten) their first loss at Rec Hall. The Huskies won the first set but let a big set three lead get away as Penn State got the 27-29, 25-9, 25-22, 25-19 victory.

The Huskies fall to 19-9 and 9-9 in conference play with one week left in the regular season. Washington hit .124 while Penn State hit .289, but the match was much tighter except for the second set, which the home team won decisively.

Kierstyn Barton, in her first start coming back from injury after nearly a month, led the team with 11 kills. Kiune Fletcher had 10 kills and Emoni Bush also had 10, but no other Husky had more than four kills.

Julia Hunt had six blocks as UW outblocked Penn State, 10.0 to 9.0.

The Dawgs won a thrilling opener, 29-27, on their sixth set point chance. Penn State responded like a top-five team on its Senior Night, dominating set two, but then the Huskies reversed things again in set three and built a 12-3 lead. But the match swung at that point, as Penn State was able to walk down the Huskies, tying it for the first time at 17-17, taking their first lead at 18-19, and after UW tied it at 20-20, Penn State scored five of the final seven points to take it, 25-22.

Washington still played well for the majority of set four, as that set was tied once again at 17-17. But Penn State then had a 3-0 run and at 19-21, the Lions scored the final four points of the match.

Up Next: The Huskies are fighting for their NCAA tournament chances next week at home to wrap up the regular season. Washington has two top-25 teams coming to Alaska Airlines Arena, giving it two chances for big statement wins. No. 21 USC comes in Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 4:30 p.m. and then No. 8 Purdue wraps things up on Friday, Nov. 29, also at 4:30 p.m.