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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Struggles from the service line and single-digit kills in each set hindered Ohio State’s efforts in coming out on the right end of 35 tied scores during a 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 road defeat at Penn State (9-12) to even the season series at 1-1. The Buckeyes (7-15) return to conference play this weekend (March 22-23) when hosting Lindenwood and Quincy for a pair of pivotal MIVA clashes.
True freshman Sean Ryan continued his recent offensive climb, putting away six kills on 11 swings with a lone error (.455). Reese Devilbiss connected on a half dozen kills as well, doing so on 18 error-free attempts (.333) to go along with a pair of aces. Ryan was also the key cog in all four Buckeye blocks, pairing with Blake Leeson for the stuffs.
SET 1: The score sat all-square at 5-5, 10-10, 15-15 and as late as 17-17 before a 3-point run lifted Penn State ahead for good. The 20-17 edge was the first of more than two points for either side. PSU rolled to a .522 hitting percentage on 14 kills and seized Set 1, 25-20.
Life comes at you fast… pic.twitter.com/dy4nwVw1Ui
— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) March 19, 2019
SET 2: More early stalemates came at 5-5 and 10-10. The Nittany Lions rattled off multiple spurts of three points or more midway through the frame, pulling away in a 25-18 winner.
Hanes on the run! pic.twitter.com/RHWuQpD3qC
— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) March 19, 2019
SET 3: For the third time in as many sets, the first 10 points of the set were split right down the middle 5-5. The ledger remained unsettled at 15-15 following this Hanes bomb:
Hanes brings the 🔨! pic.twitter.com/4zp50xRBCF
— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) March 20, 2019
The Buckeyes out-hit Penn State, .280-.080, but gave away 11 points via service errors. The baseline gaffes came in a flurry at the end, handing the Nittany Lions four free tallies following a PSU timeout with Ohio State up 20-19. Add in an attacking error down the stretch and the Buckeye comeback attempt fell short, 25-23.
