VB2K22

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Oct. 9, 2022

Penn State 3, Illinois 0

After a tough 3-2 loss to Ohio State, Friday, Oct. 7, Penn State returned home to topple Illinois 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-19). Kashauna Williams posted 15 kills in the three-set win, helping Penn State improve to 13-3 and 3-3 in the Big Ten. Illinois dropped to 8-8 and 3-3 in the Big Ten as well. Williams is a six-foot, outside hitter who previously competed at Long Beach State. In her first season at Penn State, Williams is leading the team with 207 total points and an average of 3.34 kills per set. Last season Williams averaged a career best of 4.04 kills per set in her third and final year at Long Beach. She recorded her season high of 20 kills during the five-set loss to Ohio State. On Sept. 30, Williams recorded 17 kills while hitting .419 in a match against Wisconsin.

Ohio State 3, Northwestern 1

Outside hitter Jenaisya Moore had her best weekend of the season leading Ohio State to wins over Penn State and Northwestern. On Sunday, Oct. 9, Moore led the Buckeyes to a 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-15) win, hitting a team best .345. She recorded 13 kills which was also tops for Ohio State. Two days before, Ohio State won a tough five-set match against Penn State, as Moore tied a season high of 21 kills. In that match she hit a season's best .500. Ohio State is now 9-5 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have won four straight matches after a 5-5 start. Northwestern dropped to 13-5 and 2-4 in Big Ten play.

Florida 3, LSU 2

Florida improved to 13-3 and 5-1 in SEC play, after beating LSU at home, Sunday afternoon. The Gators held off a comeback from the visitors winning 3-2 (25-18, 26-24, 25-27, 21-25, 15-9). Gabbi Essix paced Florida with 10 blocks and a hitting percentage of .417 to go along with 12 kills, which was third best on the squad. This was Essix's first career double-double and the best single game kills and blocks totals in her two seasons at Florida.

Oct. 8, 2022

New Mexico State 3, Sam Houston 2

Katie Birtcil led New Mexico State with 20 kills in a five-set win over Sam Houston on Saturday, Oct. 9. New Mexico State came back after being down 2-1 on the road winning 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-15, 15-9). Birtcil recorded 20 kills for the third time this season, leading her team in victory on each occasion. This season, Birtcil is averaging 3.61 kills per set. Last year she was a First-Team All-WAC selection as she averaged 3.66 kills per set. After Sunday's win New Mexico State improved to 10-6 overall and 3-2 in WAC play. Sam Houston is now 6-14 and 3-3 in the WAC.

Thiel College 3, Neumann 2

Thiel College has won seven of its last nine matches improving to 12-8 on the season. On Saturday afternoon, Thiel defeated Neuman in NCAA Division III volleyball action 3-2 (25-19, 25-20, 27-29, 21-25, 15-13). Maria Torres continued her strong play with 15 kills and 12 digs, recording her eighth double-double in her last 10 appearances. Torres is averaging 3.55 kills and 3.11 digs per set. The sophomore outside hitter averaged 4.01 kills and just 1.66 digs per set as a freshman last season.