Eighth-Ranked PENN STATE appears to be a very good team as always, and tomorrow’s rematch (6:30 on BTN, and maybe 96.7 FM) is by no means a sure win for the Gophs, but once again, Samedy was unstoppable when the set was on the line.
Penn State led by 2 pts late in the 1st set, but the Gophers came back to tie it up. Samedy had kills at 24-24 and again at 25-25. Landfair got a kill at 26-26 and the Gophs held on to win 29-27.
Penn State again led by 2 pts late in the 2nd set, but Samedy got 4 kills with the Gophs behind by one or two. Then the Gophers pulled even and won the set 25-23 on a kill by Landfair.
The 3rd set was another come-from-behinder, but this time by Penn State. The Gophs led the whole time up to a 20-17 lead, then Penn State ran 6 pts. The Gophs got to within 23-24, but Penn State took the set 23-25. The Nittany Lions middle hitters gave the Gophers trouble all night, but especially in this 3rd set – even against the Gophers’ triple-block! And Lanfair looked tentative.
The Gophers lost the first pt of the 4th set, but then took control, on Rubright kills, for leads of 10-7, 14-9, and 20-17 before winning 25-19. Landfair bounced back with a strong set, and with Samedy struggling a bit, Pittman took over at the end.
Can’t wait for tomorrow.