Penn State Sweeps Charleston

Story posted February 24, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by Tom Johnston

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 7 Penn State Men’s Volleyball (8-3, 3-1 EIVA) took on the Charleston (WV) Golden Eagles (8-1, 3-0 EIVA) in a conference matchup in Rec Halls South Gym. Coming into tonight’s match, the Nittany Lions did have a five-game winning streak until they lost to George Mason in Friday night’s match. Coming into the matchup, Matt McLaren leads the team in kills with 100 kills.

In the first set, Penn State won 25-21. During the set, the Nittany Lions had four-set consecutive kill streak. Furthermore, Jalen Penrose had three kills plus two service errors. Matthew McLaren also had two kills in the first set. Penn State also had another five-set consecutive kill streak. Charleston, managed to have a mini three-set comeback that made it 19-14 in favor of Penn State. Matthew McLaren also had two kills in the first set.

In the second set, Penn State won 25-20. During the set, Penn State had a seven-set consecutive kill streak. Furthermore, Aidan Albrecht had three kills during this set and Jalen Penrose had three service aces along with two kills. Matthew McLaren himself also had three kills in this set. Kevin Gear also had three kills.

In the third set, Penn State won 25-15. During the set, Penn State had four four-set consecutive killstreaks. Which by far put them ahead in this set. In the set, Kyle Mackiewicz had four kills and Kevin Gear had two kills. Aidan Albrecht had two kills in this set and Jalen Penrose had only one kill this set. However, this specific set was highlighted by 10 service errors all together with Jalen Penrose and Kyle Mackiewicz each with a solo and Aidan Albrecht with two.

On the night, Aidan Albrecht had eight kills to lead the team Gear was right behind with seven. Penrose and McLaren had six each respectively. Penrose also led the team in both Service aces with five and service errors with six.      

Coach Pavlik said “thought tonight was a pretty good bounce back from a focus and physicality standpoint” when referring to Saturday’s victory from Friday’s loss

Luke Braswell said “our goal last night was to leave the locker room with the match like not completely out of our mind but just store it in the back of our heads and just focus on today and not let that match linger because if we did that and if we did not play to well today that is basically beating us twice we cannot let what they did last night affect us today in a whole new day.” 

Kyle Mackiewicz said “…prior to this match working as a serving sub I kind of got use to what it is coming off the bench relatively cold….” When asked about what it is like to come off the bench.
Jalen Penrose said “… they have been a lot better…” when asked how Charleston has changed since his time at Penn State.

Coming up, Penn State has two conference matchups on the road at NJIT and Princeton March second and third.

 

Tom Johnston is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email taj5211@psu.edu.