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Setter Michael Schwob stepped up from the service line and helped put Penn State into the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
Schwob had a match-high three aces and was serving during multiple late-game runs as Penn State swept Daemen 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 in the NCAA Tournament opening round on Friday in Amherst, New York.
The sophomore in the second game had an ace to give the Nittany Lions a 23-21 lead and to help close out the game on a 4-0 run. In addition, Schwob with Penn State leading 22-21 in the opening game delivered an ace as part of a 4-2 game-ending run.
Along with the serving performance, Schwob guided the offense to out-hit Daemen .366 to .301 in front of a sold-out crowd.
Opposite Matthew Luoma led all players with 13 kills on a .310 attack percentage, including having six kills in the opening game. Luoma also added three aces highlighted with back-to-back aces in the third game.
Middle attacker Owen Rose contributed six kills and no errors on a team-best .750 attack percentage, while Carter Dittman had five kills and no errors on a .455 attack percentage.
Daemen outside attacker Billy Wieberg in the loss had a team-high 12 kills and hit .308.
Wieberg was one of two Wildcats to hit more than .300 and have five kills in the program’s inaugural NCAA Tournament match. Outside attacker Zach Schneider had nine kills on a .316 attack percentage.
Daemen reached the NCAA Tournament after winning the NEC Tournament as the No. 3 seed. This was the first year the NEC received an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Penn State with this victory will advance to play the No. 7 seed Hawai’i in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
Hawai’i hit .397 in a home sweep against Penn State at the Outrigger Invitational earlier this season.