Michigan
15-7,5-6Big Ten
Penn State
13-8,7-4Big Ten
Wolverines Outlast No. 19 Penn State in Five-Set Battle
10/31/2025 11:06:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan rallied from a 2-1 deficit to top No. 19 Penn State in five sets, taking the second, fourth and fifth sets.
» Ella Demetrician and Allison Jacobs both recorded kill-dig double-doubles with 18 kills each.
» Cymarah Gordon tallied a career-high 13 kills and recorded the final kill in each set Michigan won.
» Morgan Burke tallied 32 assists and 13 digs for a double-double of her own.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In a back-and-forth five-set thriller, the University of Michigan volleyball team defeated reigning national champion and No. 19-ranked Penn State (21-25, 25-21, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12) on Friday night (Oct. 31) inside Crisler Center.
After forcing a fifth set with a 25-22 win in the fourth, the Wolverines opened deciding frame with a kill from Allison Jacobs. Following an early tie from Penn State (13-8, 7-4 Big Ten), a Cymarah Gordon kill and a Nittany Lion error gave Michigan a two-point cushion it never relinquished. The Wolverines extended their lead to 8-4 at the media timeout following a block from Jenna Hanes and Sydney Schnichels. Out of the break, Ella Demetrician added two kills and the Wolverines got key blocks from Schnichels and Serena Nyambio to make it 10-5. Demetrician and Allison Jacobs ran the advantage to 13-8. Penn State later fought off three match points, but Cymarah Gordon closed it out with her 13th kill to secure the 15-12 fifth-set win.
Michigan (15-7, 5-6 Big Ten) was led by Demetrician and Jacobs, who each tallied 18 kills and double-doubles. Demetrician hit .273 and added 11 digs, while Jacobs hit .212 with 12 digs. Morgan Burke also posted a double-double with 32 assists and 13 digs, along with one ace. Nyambio totaled 10 kills on 19 swings, and Gordon set a new career high with 13 kills -- including the final point in all three of Michigan's set wins. Maddi Cuchran paced the backcourt with 22 digs and added seven assists.
The match opened with a Penn State ace, but a service error evened it at one. The teams traded points until a 3-0 Nittany Lion run made it 9-6, before Michigan answered with one of its own, capped by an ace from Burke. PSU regained control at 12-9 and led 15-12 at the media timeout. Michigan came within one at 16-15 on a Hanes kill, but Penn State closed out the first set 25-21.
Penn State opened the second set on a 2-0 run and built an 11-6 lead, forcing a Michigan timeout. Out of the break, Nyambio and Gordon recorded back-to-back kills, and a solo block from Nyambio cut the deficit to two. A kill and ace from Jacobs later tied the set at 16, and after a brief Penn State lead, Demetrician evened it again at 17. A block from Gordon and Nyambio gave Michigan its first lead and forced a Penn State timeout. Demetrician added another kill out of the break, and Nyambio kept U-M in front before Gordon sealed the set with the final kill in a 25-21 win.
The third set was the closest of the match, featuring 12 ties and five lead changes as neither team led by more than three points early on. A Penn State error at 11-10 gave Michigan the edge, and back-to-back kills from Nyambio extended the lead. Jacobs added two more around the media timeout to make it 16-13, and Demetrician pushed it to 20-15. Penn State rallied to tie it at 21 and 22 before taking a 23-22 lead. Michigan fought off four set points, but the Nittany Lions converted on their fifth to claim the set, 28-26.
The fourth set stayed close early, with four ties before a Michigan service error made it 6-6. Jacobs put Michigan back in front at 7-6, and the Wolverines never trailed again. A block from Demetrician and Nyambio made it 10-7, and Michigan led 15-12 at the media timeout. Penn State closed to within one at 16-15, but another surge, capped by a Nyambio kill made it 21-18. PSU got back-to-back kills and cut the deficit to two at 24-22, but Michigan responded with kills from Jacobs, Nyambio, and Gordon to reach set point. Gordon then finished it off for a 25-22 win to force the deciding fifth set.
The Wolverines return to action Sunday (Nov. 2) against No. 10-ranked Purdue at 2 p.m. in Cliff Keen Arena. The match will stream live on B1G+.
