PITTSBURGH— Penn State volleyball didn’t lose two straight games all of last season, and on this the first night of September, it’s already happened.
After being stunned by No. 13 Arizona State the night before, No. 5 Penn State fell to No. 24 TCU.
The team got another superb performance by opposite hitter Kennedy Martin, who ended with 21 kills and 15 digs.
But the team again couldn’t reward Martin with a win.
TCU got off to a hot start in Set One, leading 9-3 and forcing Penn State to take a timeout.
That hot start continued, with TCU building up leads of 18-8 and 21-9.
TCU ended up winning the first set, 25-19.
Eva Hendrix led the way with five kills for TCU. Kennedy Martin had four for Penn State.
Set two got off to an even start, with the teams being tied at six. TCU then moved ahead 15-10, prompting Izzy Starck to tell her teammates to “stop feeling sorry for themselves.”
It didn’t work right away, with TCU moving to a 17-11 lead. That turned in 22-14 lead, which turned into a set win.
Hendrik led the way for TCU with nine kills through two sets. Kennedy Martin had 10 to go with 10 digs.
During the third set, TCU’s Jayln Gibson, who had 10 digs, suffered a scary injury.
The third set remained competitive, with TCU leading 15-13 at the media timeout.
Penn State eventually pulled away, winning the set 25-20. That momentum continued into the fourth set, where Penn State jumped out to a 15-6 lead. Penn State ended up winning set No. 4, 25-19.
TCU took back control at the beginning of the fifth set, leading 5-2. Penn State kept fighting, but eventually fell 15-12.
For TCU, Hendrik ended with 14 kills and Becca Kelley had 13.
Penn State volleyball looks to get back on track Friday when No. 4 Kentucky comes to Rec Hall. That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30.
