Penn State Downs Spartans in Return, 3-0

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State returned from a three-week Covid pause on Friday against No. 12 Penn State, and fell to the visiting Nittany Lions by a 3-0 score (25-18, 25-17, 25-14).

MSU, which has had players released from protocol over the course of the last week, battled valiantly despite being shorthanded with several players unavailable and/or out due to non-Covid injury. MSU was out-blocked 7-0 and saw its visitors hit .344 (44-11-96). The Spartans hit .082 for the match, getting eight kills each from Alyssa Chronowski and Naya Gros and six more from Meredith Norris, who also added a solo block.

The Nittany Lions spread out their offense, as five players had between seven and nine kills. Serena Gray led the way with nine terminations and two blocks, and Jonni Parker and Kaitlyn Hord each had eight kills and a match-best three blocks.

The two teams meet again on Saturday at 6 pm to complete the series.

STATS AND STORYLINES:
* Michigan State was playing its first game in nearly a month. The last time MSU played a game was Feb. 21 vs. Wisconsin.
* Both Alyssa Chrnowski and Naya Gros had eight kills, with Gros hitting a team-best .276.
* Meredith Norris had six kills and a solo block, and added six digs.
* Celia Cullen had 26 assists and added six digs.
* Lauryn Gibbs had a team-best seven digs, and four others had six (Cullen, Norris, Cox, and Chronowski)

SET ONE: the Nittany Lions jumped out to an early four-point lead, but Michigan State kept pace until 15-19, at which point Penn State started pulling away. A kill by Naya Gros and a PSU error fought off set point at 24-18, but the visitors closed it out at 25-18. The Nittany Lions hit .500 in the set (15-2-26), and had a pair of blocks. MSU hit .308 (12-4-26) as Chronowski, Gros, and Norris each had three kills for MSU, while Anastasia Krdryashova and Kaitlyn Hord each had five for Penn State.

SET TWO: Penn State was able to build a more sizable lead quickly, going up 10-4 out of the gate and having a lead as large as 12 points in the second frame. MSU made a late push in a 25-17 set loss, despite hitting -.050 (8-10-40). Penn State had three blocks in the set to MSU's two, as Norris had another three terminations and a solo stuff and Chronowski added another three kills. Jonni Parker had five kills for Penn State, putting up two of the squad's three blocks in the frame. The Nittany Lions hit .171 (12-6-35).

SET THREE: MSU fell behind to Penn State by seven early at 12-5, and the Nittany Lions had found their groove – the visitors hit .400 in the third set (17-3-35) as an undermanned Spartan squad was scrappy and determined. Gros had three kills on four swings to lead MSU in the frame, while Becka Poljan and Chronowski each contributed two.

Next Event

Team Stats

Alyssa Chronowski

Naya Gros

Meredith Norris

Rebecka Poljan

Players Mentioned

Alyssa Chronowski

Celia Cullen

Lauryn Gibbs

Naya Gros

Meredith Norris

Players Mentioned

Alyssa Chronowski

Celia Cullen

Lauryn Gibbs

Naya Gros

Meredith Norris