Minnesota Sweeps The Nittany Lions

No. 4 Penn State women’s volleyball lost to No. 7 Minnesota in straight sets (22-25, 21-25, 19-25) Wednesday night at Maturi Pavilion.

Stephanie Samedy and Adanna Rollins each had a double-double for the Golden Gophers, combining for 27 kills and 21 digs against Russ Rose’s Nittany Lions. Allyson Cathey and Taylor Leath led Penn State with eight kills apiece on a tough hitting night for the team (.168 to Minnesota’s .262).

It was entertaining to watch setters Bryanna Weiskircher and Samantha Seliger-Swenson duke it out in Minneapolis, with Seliger-Swenson earning the upper hand this time around. The three-time All-American had 40 assists and 16 digs to Weiskircher’s 29 and 10.

Cathey joined fellow freshmen Jonni Parker, Kaitlyn Hord, and Serena Gray in Penn State’s starting lineup, as senior outside hitter Nia Reed missed her third straight match. Parker and Hord had seven kills apiece, while Gray chipped in four of her own to match Weiskircher.

Minnesota had five players with double-digit digs. On Penn State’s side of the net, junior libero Kendall White and freshman defensive specialist Jenna Hampton finished with 18 and 13 digs, respectively. Hampton’s mark set a new career high.

The Nittany Lions (9-2) travel to Columbus Sunday for a 1 p.m. match against Ohio State at St. John Arena. Leath currently leads the team in kills with 88, while Parker trails close behind with 84.