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Current time: 10:48 a.m.
Fri May 16, 2008

Top-Seeded Penn State Downs No. 4 Ohio State in National Semifinals

Nittany Lions to face Pepperdine/Long Beach State winner in Sunday's title match

May 1, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. - The Penn State men's volleyball team booked its fifth all-time appearance in the NCAA Championship match on Thursday evening, taking a 3-1 (30-21, 26-30, 30-22, 30-17) victory over Ohio State in a Final Four showdown at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center. The Nittany Lions (29-1) will face the winner of Thursday's other national semifinal between Pepperdine and Long Beach State on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Led by juniors Ryan Sweitzer and Matt Anderson, Penn State dominated game one, hitting .552 compared to just .267 for the Buckeyes. Sweitzer and Anderson, who each finished the game with six kills, sparked a 9-1 Nittany Lion run at 19-16, as Penn State took an insurmountable 28-17 lead before eventually closing out the game 30-21.

Ohio State (20-8) came out much stronger in game two, riding the hot hand of outside hitter Robbie Klein, who had a game-high four kills. With the Buckeyes leading 19-18, Ohio State went on a 6-2 run, jumping out 25-20 advantage. The Nittany Lions made a late rally, cutting the lead to 26-25, however Ohio State held on, closing out the game on a Klein ace that hit the net and dribbled over into an open court for a 30-26 win.

The big story in game three was the outstanding blocking of Penn State, most notably by middle Max Lipsitz, who had a game-high four blocks. After registering just six blocks in the first two games, Penn State added nine in game three alone. The game ended on a penetrating kill by Anderson, as Penn State recorded a 30-22 win.

Riding the momentum of its game three dominance, Penn State jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in game four and never looked back, as the Nittany Lions then went on a 7-2 run for a 16-6 advantage. The Buckeyes were never in it, registering a match-low 17 points, as Penn State hit .619 for the game. Up 29-17, the Nittany Lions closed out the match when Sweitzer and Max Holt combined for a block on Ohio State outside hitter John Klanac.

Anderson led Penn State with a match-high 30 kills, while Lipsitz paced the Nittany Lions in blocking with seven (two solo). Ohio State outside hitter Brett Versen had a team-high 13 kills for the Buckeyes, who hit -.091 and .000 in the last two games.