RECAP: No. 5 Penn State swept in three sets by No. 4 Kentucky
No. 4 Kentucky took all three sets Friday against No. 5 Penn State. Photo: Makenna Cameron
It was a big, busy weekend in Rec Hall at Penn State.
The Penn State women’s volleyball team hosted their three-day Penn State Invitational, featuring Kentucky, Penn State, and New Hampshire.
First up on Friday was No. 4 Kentucky vs No. 5 Penn State.
Ava Hudson, a senior outside hitter, was the first to get a point for Kentucky. Hudson is currently the second-highest on the team for points (43) and kills (39). She proved her fierceness on the court, earning 11 points for her team on the night.
Penn State also has a ton of talent and one of them made an announcement before the match. Izzy Starck, who was named American Volleyball Coaches Association National Freshman of the Year in 2024, announced she was taking a leave of absence this season due to mental health.
Showing that courage and being selfless when you need time is a noble act. That gave Addie Lyon, a graduate student, and the only other setter on the team, an opportunity to shine.
At 5 feet 9 inches, Lyon dominated her position, setting perfect hits for her 6-plus-foot teammates. As the match went on, Lyon and her teammates formed into a well-oiled machine, moving across the court effortlessly.
Kentucky, however, came to win. Reaching 25 points in the first 2 sets, the Wildcats dominated. Although the players were subbed throughout the game, there was one who held her position with a tight fist.
Brooke DeLeye, a 6’2 outside hitter, killed. Earning 21 points for her team, DeLeye sprang into action as the first whistle of the game blew. Her serves, digs, and kills had a force behind them like no other athlete on the court.
DeLeye and her teammate Kennedy Washington went head-to-head in blocking with Penn State’s Emmi Sellman and Jordan Hopp.
And, just when you thought the Nittany Lions were about to score a point, Washington and DeLeye were there to stop it, and vice versa. Not only do Sellman and Hopp look identical on the court, but their skills are identical.
The two moved in a synchronized manner when blocking Kentucky’s shots.
The third and final set was a nail-biting one. One after another, Penn State scored a point, but Kentucky wasn't too far behind. The fans were entranced in the stands and moved with the motion of the set, their heads moving back and forth and back and forth after each team scored one right after the other.
It came down to one point.
Kentucky was at 24 points while Penn State was at 23. After Penn State finally caught up to Kentucky, the arena was silent. However, Kentucky brought the southern heat with them and won the match.
The sets were 25-21, 25-16, 25-23.
Thank you for reading Female Athlete News. Lily Dorf is a student-intern at Penn State University.