2017 NCAA MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
- #4 seeded Hawaii def. #5 seeded Penn State 3-2, (23-25, 27-25, 17-25, 25-14, 15-4)
- Hawaii moves on to face #1 seeded Ohio State Thursday, May 4 at 8 PM ET
- St. John’s Arena, Columbus, Ohio
- May 2-7, 2017
- Match results
In the opening round, Hawaii fought a 2-1 deficit to take down Penn State in a dominant five-set showing.
The first set was a tight battle with the score tied up early at 4-4, but Penn State was able to jump to a 10-6 lead after three Calvin Mende kills, a Matt Callaway kill and two Hawaii attack errors. For the remainder of the first, neither team led by more than two points. Late in the set, Hawaii’s Stijn van Tilburg put down a kill to tie up the score at 23-23 when a Warriors service ace and Nittany Lion block ended the first set 25-23.
Mende contributed seven kills in the first set for Penn State, while Van Tilburg added six for the Warriors.
The match did not get any easier on either side, with seven ties occurring in the second set. The largest lead of the second came from Hawaii with a 7-3 lead, but a number of Warrior error brought the Nittany Lions back within two at 8-6. Penn State made another advance with a strong 12-4 run late to bring them ahead 23-20 late in the set. Hawaii didn’t give up and made a comeback to tie the match at 24s then 25s before they took the set 27-25 to tie up the match 1-1.
The third set got away from the Hawaii as Penn State rolled to a 25-17 win, after a tough start to the set. The Nittany Lions hit for .474 while holding the Warriors to .154.
Hawaii returned the favor in the fourth set, taking Penn State down 25-14 to force a fifth and deciding set. The Warriors led the entire fourth set, holding a 9-7 lead early. Brett Rosenmeier and Austin Matautia kills and Penn State hitting errors helped the Warriors to a 15-9 lead. The dominance only continued with Hawaii finishing on a 9-2 run.
In the final set, it was nothing but Hawaii’s dominance, as the Warriors put down seven kills on 12 swings and zero errors for a .583 hitting percentage while holding the Nittany Lions to a match-low -.190 hitting clip. The set began with three Penn State errors for a quick 3-0 lead for Hawaii, with the Warriors continuing to capitalize on errors and a tough block to win the set and match 15-4.
Leading all scorers was Hawaii’s van Tilburg with 20 kills on a .289 hitting percentage, adding seven digs and six blocks. Rosenmeier came in late to contribute another 13 kills and six blocks while setter Jennings Franciskovic added 49 assists, seven digs, five blocks and five kills on a .714 hitting clip.
Mende led the Nittany Lions with 18 kills, six digs, and two blocks while Kevin Gear put down 10 kills and six digs.
Up Next:
#4 seeded Hawaii will take on #1 seeded Ohio State in the semifinals on Thursday, May 4 at 8 PM ET.
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