#4 Kentucky Volleyball Set For Heavyweight Battle With #5 Penn State

Penn State Projected Starters And Subs

Kennedy Martin RS – Emmi Sellman OH – Caroline Jurevicius OH/RS – Maggie Mendelson MB – Jordan Hopp MB – Izzy Starck S – Gillian Grimes L – Ava Falduto DS – Jocelyn Nathan DS

No. 5 Penn State’s comeback attempt fell short in a 3-2 (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 19-25, 15-12) loss to No. 24 TCU in a non-conference women’s volleyball match on Monday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The Nittany Lions fell to 2-2 on the season after dropping two matches at the State Farm Volleyball Showcase. They also lost to No. 13 Arizona St in the event.

A pair of Penn State players recorded double-doubles. Kennedy Martin tallied 21 kills and 15 digs, while Izzy Starck turned in 41 assists and a team-high 17 digs. Gillian Grimes finished with 13 digs to join the pair in double-digits

Kentucky Volleyball Projected Starters And Subs

Brooklyn DeLeye OH – Eva Hudson OH – Asia Thigpen OH – Brooke Bultema MB – Lizzie Carr MB/RS – Ava Sarafa S – Molly Tuozzo L – Molly Berezowitz DS – Trinity Ward DS

The No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers came back from two sets to down to beat No. 7 Kentucky 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at the 2025 Broadway Block Party inside Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.

UK took the opening two sets 26-24 and 25-20. The Wildcats were hitting above .230 for both of the opening sets. Outside Hitters Eva Hudson and Brooklyn DeLeye were controlling the match for Cats. DeLeye ended the match with 23 kills, the most of anyone in the match for either team. Eva Hudson had 19 kills on 65 swings Sunday afternoon and she had in two solo stuffs, as well.

The Wildcats had the No. 1 Cornhuskers on the ropes a few times and let one slip away. As Nebraska reverse swept the UK to win on the big stage.

Kentucky vs Nebraska Box Score

The End Of My Kentucky Volleyball Rant

Penn State is 7-1 in the all-time series with Kentucky. The teams first played in 1982 and most recently played last season in 2024.

UK will continue it’s run through playing all four final four participants from last season as they take on the Nittany Lions. Before returning home for their opening home game of the season, Kentucky will face New Hampshire at 2 pm EST on Sunday in University Park.

Check out our Nebraska versus Kentucky preview here.

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