UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State greeted new conference foe Oregon with a sweep in front of a crowded and loud Rec Hall.

After losing first sets to Michigan State and Maryland earlier in the week, No. 3 Penn State defeated the No. 11 Ducks in three sets. It is the Nittany Lions’ ninth win of the 2024 season.

“It’s the ability to come out and be ready,” head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said in response to the team regrouping for three strong sets. “It’s a skill they’re working on and we’re getting better at it.”

The Ducks and Nittany Lions traded points early in the first set. Penn State then went on a 4-0 run to take the lead.

The blue and whites didn’t want to look back and took a 1-0 lead at 25:19. Outside hitter Jess Mruzik had eight kills and two blocks.

In the second set, the Nittany Lions took an early 5-1 lead before Oregon head coach Matt Ulmer called a timeout. Penn State would also win an early challenge with a fourth down to keep the momentum in their favor.

Oregon recovered and took the lead midway through the set. However, the Nittany Lions responded immediately and took a 2-0 lead at the end of the set after four consecutive points.

With Penn State leading 8-3 in the third set, Oregon used both timeouts. Fittingly, Jess Mruzik got the final kill, her 16th of the game, winning set 3 25-17.

“I think Jess is honestly the best player I’ve ever played with,” Nebraska native Caroline Jurevicius said of Mruzik. “You learn a lot from her, be it as a woman or as a player.”

Jurevicius led the team with .455 on the night after posting negative scores in two straight games. Her former Cornhusker colleague Maggie Mendelson led the match with five blocks. Mruzik had her 13th game of the season with double-digit kills and also added eight digs and three blocks to the stat line.

The Nittany Lions’ defense also played commendably. Oregon hit just .075 for the entire game, and Penn State held starters Colby Neal and Mimi Colyer to under -.100 hits.

Coach Schumacher-Cawley also praised the white-clad Rec Hall crowd for the energy and noise.

“You hear players who are in Big Ten interviews saying this is one of the toughest places to play,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I think it unsettles some players.”

Penn State celebrated its fifth win of the season with a score of 14-1. They next play Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 11, beginning a three-game road trip.

Oregon falls to 11-2 and is back at home on Wednesday to face the University of Southern California.

Jack Rachinsky is a second-year broadcast journalism major. To contact him, send an email [email protected].