No. 9 Penn State women’s volleyball (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) overpowered Indiana (7-6, 0-1 Big Ten) to preserve its undefeated season on Friday night at Rec Hall.

The Nittany Lions made it look easy against the Hoosiers in a sweep (25-17, 25-21, 25-23) thanks to big contributions from outside hitters Kashuana Williams and Zoe Weatherington.

How It Happened

Sophomore Anjelina Starck opened the night and tallied two kills to grab a quick 4-1 lead over the Hoosiers in the first set. Despite Penn State’s rapid lead, Indiana fiercely battled back and decreased its deficit to 10-8.

Maddy Bilinovic picked up an easy service ace to lock in at 12-8 and forced Indiana head coach Steve Aird to call a timeout.

Penn State stretched its lead to 20-13 courtesy of back-to-back blocks from Allie Holland and a service error from the Hoosiers.

Taylor Trammell notched a kill to send the Nittany Lions to set point and Starck sealed the first set at 25-17 with a solo block.

Indiana secured a 5-2 lead in the second set, its first lead of the match. The Nittany Lions fought back and tied the Hoosiers at six-all via an electric kill from Kashauna Williams.

Penn State dropped the next four points to the Hoosiers, but Williams picked up another kill, followed by a handful of Indiana errors. The Nittany Lions regained the lead at 15-14 and began trading points with Indiana for much of the remainder of the set.

4-0 Indiana run ended by @6ugarr #WeAre pic.twitter.com/6GbMNyUKJD

— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL) September 23, 2022

Seleisa Elisaia recorded a kill followed by an attack error from the Hoosiers and the Nittany Lions took the second set 25-21.

Both teams were knotted at 6-6 in the opening points of the third set, but Indiana pulled away and maintained a two-point lead over the Nittany Lions for several serves.

Williams logged back-to-back kills and recaptured Penn State’s lead at 13-12. Still, Indiana was locked in and hung tough with the Nittany Lions for the whole set.

Three kills and a solo block from Zoe Weatherington helped Penn State pull out to a 24-20 match-point lead. Indiana scored the next three points, and forced Nittany Lion head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley to opt for a timeout.

Indiana served Penn State’s third match point and Weatherington and Holland combined for a block to capture the set at 25-23 and the match.

Player of the Game

Kashauna Williams | Outside Hitter

Eight kills on a .278 hitting clip from Kashuana Williams defined the Nittany Lions’ offense against Indiana. Williams set the tone in the second set and provided a huge boost of energy to the lineup when the team needed it most.

What’s Next?

Penn State women’s volleyball is scheduled for another home game in Happy Valley. First serve against Michigan is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, at Rec Hall.