UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State welcomed new foe Oregon to the conference with a sweep in front of a packed and raucous Rec Hall.

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

“It’s the ability to come out and be ready to go,” head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said in response to the way the team regrouped for three strong sets. “That’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 scoring run to take the lead.

The blue and white did not want to look back and took a 1-0 lead with a score of 25-19. Outside hitter Jess Mruzik had eight kills and two blocks.

In Set 2, 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 fourth-touch challenge to keep the momentum in their favor.

Oregon came back and took the lead halfway through the set. However, the Nittany Lions responded immediately, jumping to a 2-0 lead on four straight points to end the set.

By the time Penn State led 8-3 in the third set, Oregon used both timeouts. Fittingly, Jess Mruzik had the final kill, her 16th of the match, to seal a 25-17 victory in Set 3.

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

Jurevicius, after hitting in the negatives for two consecutive games, led the team that evening with .455. Her fellow former Cornhusker, Maggie Mendelson, led the game 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 the entire game, and Penn State held starters Colby Neal and Mimi Colyer under -.100.

Coach Schumacher-Cawley also credited the Rec Hall crowd decked out in white for the energy and noise.

“You hear players say in Big Ten interviews that this is one of the toughest places to play,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I think it will wake up some players.”

Penn State recorded their fifth win of the season and moved to 14-1. They next play Michigan State on Friday, October 11, beginning a three-game road trip.

Oregon falls to 11-2 and is back home on Wednesday, where they will take on the University of Southern California.

Jack Rachinsky is a sophomore majoring in journalism. To contact him, you can send an email [email protected].