Has there been any team in college sports more dominant than Penn State women’s volleyball this year? There’s been no stopping Penn State this season with six sweeps in six games, including over No. 2 Stanford last weekend in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions continued their dominance in the first game of the Golden Dome Invitational, sweeping Eastern Kentucky 25-14, 25-13, 25-14.

How It Happened

The Nittany Lions took control of the Colonels from the beginning of the match, as they took the set 25-14. Aiyana Whitney was the key contributor as she accounted for four of the team’s ten kills. Bryanna Weiskircher had two consecutive aces to begin the set with Haleigh Washington adding one later, while a large portion of Penn State’s points came by way of errors by the Colonels.

The second set was similar to the first, as Penn State was dominant throughout and it came out with the win, 25-13. Three service aces came in the set by Washington, Weiskircher, and Taylor Krause.

The third set was more competitive towards the beginning, but ended up having the same result as the first two. The Colonels took the lead over the Nittany Lions many times during the first ten points, but couldn’t hold it for long. Numerous service errors plagued the Colonels as Penn State took the third set and the sweep over Eastern Kentucky, 25-14.

Takeaways

• These ladies are a dominant group. No matter who they face off against they always seem to have the upper hand. It seems like once this team hits around 15 points they go in for the kill, literally (Ed. note: You know what we mean — like in a volleyball way). Each of the three sets were relatively close until about the time where Penn State reached about 12 to 15 points. Then the game was basically over for the Colonels, as they could only stand and watch.
• Haleigh Washington was stellar at the net once again, accounting for a team-leading four blocks. She knows how to make her way around the court and how to stand tall as she has been the leading blocker on this Nittany Lions team.

Player Of The Game

Washington gets my nod as the player of the game for her versatile play this game and all season. She led Penn State in three different categories against Eastern Kentucky, with nine kills, four blocks, and three service aces. Washington also had two digs to cap off a great performance. That kind of play is hard to stop for any team, no matter who is facing off against Russ Rose’s squad.

What’s Next?

Penn State will stay in South Bend, IN, to finish off the Golden Dome Invitational tomorrow, Sept. 12,  against Mississippi State at 10:00 a.m. before squaring off against Notre Dame at 7:00 p.m.