By Marissa Masano / The Jambar
To open Horizon League play, the Youngstown State University women’s volleyball team traveled to face the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay on Sept. 26-27 inside the Kress Events Center for a two-game series.
The Penguins hosted Robert Morris University at Zidian Family Arena in Beeghly Center on Sept. 30 and swept the Colonials. The team won in straight sets, with scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 25-17. Youngstown State dominated the stat sheet, as it led in kills, aces, blocks and digs.
In the first game against Green Bay, the Penguins fell in four sets after they won the first, 26-24. In a tightly contested opening set, Youngstown State went on a seven-point run to take a 14-10 lead.
However, errors allowed the Phoenix to rally and regain control. Late in the set, kills by sophomore Taya Nordmann and senior Abbie Householder, along with two aces from freshman Kameron Blizniak, helped the Penguins reclaim the advantage, 24-23. A 7-1 scoring run capped the comeback to give Youngstown State the set win.
The second set featured seven ties before Green Bay used a series of kills to go on a six-point run and take a 14-9 lead. Attacking errors by the Penguins extended the Phoenix’s lead to 21-12.
Youngstown State responded with a block from redshirt freshman Niyah Lester and freshman Layne Graffice. A kill by Machin sparked a five-point run that narrowed the gap to 23-20. However, two late kills by Green Bay secured the set, 25-20.
The third set remained close, with the Penguins trailing by one at 20-19. Attacking errors from Youngstown State contributed to two of Green Bay’s final five points, and the Phoenix took the set, 25-20.
Neither team built a significant lead in the fourth set, with Green Bay’s largest margin being 6-3 early on. Youngstown State went on a 5-1 run late to pull ahead, 23-22. However, a pair of service and attacking errors allowed the Phoenix to tie the set. A Green Bay service ace sealed the set, 27-25, and the match, 3-1.
Householder and Blizniak both recorded double-doubles. Householder recorded 13 kills and 11 digs, while Blizniak had 31 assists and 10 digs. Blizniak led the team with three aces. Junior Maria Insana recorded a team-high 16 digs. Nordmann led the Penguins with seven blocks.
The Penguins fell in their second-consecutive match against Green Bay, losing in four sets. In the first set, Youngstown State never led, with four of the Phoenix’s first 10 points coming off Penguins’ attacking errors. Youngstown’s largest offensive rally earned just three points in the 25-16 loss.
Head Coach Riley Jarrett said the team is working on cleaning up errors to prepare for its next game.
“We always serve and pass. That’s what we do at every single practice [and] before games because the serve and pass is so important for both sides of the net. And then attacking, it’s something that we’re throwing a lot of different lineups out there. So it’s just trying to fine-tune that with going into the rest of conference play,” Jarrett said.
In the second set, the Penguins started strong as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead with kills by Machin and freshman Presley Stokes. Later, kills from Stokes and service aces from redshirt freshman Ava Prince helped extend the lead to nine points. A kill from Householder closed out the set, which gave Youngstown State a comfortable 25-15 win.
Green Bay came back strong in the third set, going on a 12-2 run to start. The Phoenix kept the pressure with seven-straight points after a block by Machin and senior Julia Sell. Green Bay took the set with 25-11, and led the match series by 2-1 going into the fourth.
The final set featured 14 ties and eight lead changes. Youngstown State took its first lead at 20-19 on a kill by Stokes. Three service errors between the teams kept the score close until a kill by Blizniak put the Penguins ahead, 25-24. The Penguins battled off five match points and had four set points before the Phoenix scored the final three points to win the set, 35-33.
Youngstown State will host a conference doubleheader against Northern Kentucky University on Oct. 3-4 at Zidian Family Arena. Friday’s match will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 5 p.m. and attendees are encouraged to wear pink for breast cancer awareness.
Live stats for Saturday’s match will be available at YSUSports.com.
