MVB Tamed by Nittany Lions in Straight Sets

Friday, January 24

University Park, PA

4:00 PM

UCLA

3-2

Penn State

3-2

UCLA

Penn State

Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA

MVB Tamed by Nittany Lions in Straight Sets

January 24, 2020 | Men's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (pdf)Season Stats

The No. 6 UCLA men's volleyball team (3-2) dropped a straight-set decision at No. 10 Penn State (3-2) in first night action at the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge in State College, Pa. on Friday. Scores of the match were 22-25, 27-29, 24-26. In the evening's first match, Ohio State improved to 6-0 on the year with a straight-set win over USC 25-20, 25-21, 25-22. The Bruins will take on the Buckeyes at 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday before returning home next week to host No. 13 Princeton on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the John Wooden Center.

In set one, Penn State jumped out to a 3-7 edge. UCLA closed to 7-8 after a kill from Alex Knight. The Nittany Lions built the margin back up to 10-13 before UCLA used kills from Austin Matautia and Mads Kyed Jensen to even the score at 13-all. Penn State scored the next three points to regain control. UCLA moved to within 16-18 after a Cole Ketrzynski kill only to see the host team tally four of the next five points for a 17-22 advantage. The Bruins closed to 21-23 after back-to-back aces from Kyed Jensen. A Daniel Matheney kill saved one set point, but the Nittany Lions prevailed 22-25. Penn State hit .552 for the frame to .360 for UCLA. Ketrzynski had four kills.

UCLA used a pair of aces from Kyed Jensen to help open up a 4-1 lead to begin set two. Penn State came back to even the score at 6-all. UCLA went up 10-7, after a Metheney/Matautia block, and 13-9, following an Alex Knight swing. Ketrzynski's kill made it 17-14 for the Bruins and another swing by the freshman put UCLA in front 21-17. A Knight kill made it 23-20, but the next three points went to Penn State. Matt Younggren's kill put UCLA in front at 24-23. Penn State then spoiled three set point attempts by the Bruins, including one on a challenge reversal, to tie the score at 26-all. Ketrzynski's swing saved a set point for UCLA and tied the score at 27. Penn State then scored on a kill and an ace to win the set. UCLA hit .483, but the Nittany Lions were swinging at a .500 clip.

Penn State enjoyed a 6-10 advantage to begin set three. The Bruins scored the next two points on a Matautia kill and another ace from Kyed Jensen. The Lions moved in front 9-13. UCLA narrowed the margin to 16-17 after a kills from Matautia and then a Kyed Jensen block. UCLA pulled even at 19-all following an ace from Matautia. The score was then level at points 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Matautia saved a match point, but PSU responded with two straight for a 24-26 win. UCLA hit .200 for the set to .412 for PSU.

Ketryznski (.300) and Knight (.389) led UCLA attackers with 10 kills each. Kyed Jensen finished with five service aces, matching his previous high this season against Princeton. Daniel Matheney produced a career-best five kills and two block assists. Cole Power added a team-best and season-high six digs.

UCLA hit .354 for the contest with Penn State attacking at a .500 clip. The Bruins totaled eight aces to seven for the Nittany Lions. UCLA held the blocking edge 3.5 to 3.0.