Penn State volleyball | No. 10 Penn State survives High Point in 5 sets

State College, Pennsylvania – In a nonconference match during the Penn State Invitational, No. 10 Penn State women's volleyball team narrowly defeated High Point, 5-4, in the first round of competition. The Nittany Lions improved their season record to 2-0. Junior middle blocker Ryla Jones contributed a career-high five aces in the victory.

The Panthers finished the tournament at 1-2. Jones' five aces marked the first time she had ever recorded an ace in her collegiate career. Serving ace hits, Whitney Lauenstein contributed three in the win, while Ava Falduto and Kennedy Martin each tallied two. Alexis Stucky, Gabrielle Nichols, and Haley Burgdorf added one each to the team's ace count.

The 15 aces the Nittany Lions scored were the most in a five-set match during the 25-point rally scoring era, surpassing the previous record of 11 set on three separate occasions. Penn State struggled offensively, but their defense outmatched High Point, holding them to a .104 hitting percentage. Ava Falduto led the team in digs with 22, while Martin and Burgdorf combined for eight.

Whitney Lauenstein had six blocks, followed by Jones with five. Freshman Finley Krystkowiak posted nine kills at a .353 clip. Sydney McKay was strong from the service line for High Point with five aces and nine digs. Kea Whillock contributed significantly to Penn State's defense with 29 digs. High Point held Penn State to .056 hitting, thanks to Whillock's seven digs.

Lauenstein dominated the second set with four kills, leading the Nittany Lions to a 25-13 win. Martin and Falduto each scored two aces in the set. After taking a 21-8 lead following a block by Stucky and Jones, Penn State easily won the set. Krystkowiak hit .300 with five kills in the third set as Penn State took control, leading 7-1.

They maintained that lead for the rest of the set before High Point battled back. Penn State ended the set with a 3-0 run, with Burgdorf recording the final kill. However, a 10-point lead (19-9) was lost in the fourth set after a 8-0 run by High Point. Talia Lardner capitalized on a Panthers' second chance at set point with a kill.

Penn State rebounded with three more aces, two from Lauenstein and one from Jones, in the fifth set. The Nittany Lions opened the set with a 6-1 lead, with Lauenstein's five-kill run including both of her aces. High Point got as close as 12-10 before Penn State closed the set with three points, all coming from Martin, Nichols, and Lauenstein.

Haley Burgdorf had a career-high eight digs, while Lexi Gin added four. Finley Krystkowiak recorded nine kills, two digs, and one block. Danielle Whitmire provided a team-high 16 assists.