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No. 6/6 Grand Canyon just did not have an answer for outside attacker Brett Wildman.
The Preseason All-American had a match-high 14 kills and one error on a .684 attack percentage as No. 4/4 Penn State swept Grand Canyon 25-17, 25-21, 25-22 on Thursday in University Park, Pennsylvania.
This is the second consecutive match that Wildman had double-digit kills against a top-10 nationally ranked team. In addition, the Nittany Lions (3-0, 0-0 EIVA) have now opened their season with three straight matches versus top-10 ranked teams.
Setter Cole Bogner guided the offense to more than a .500 attack percentage in each of the first two games against the Antelopes (2-1, 0-0 MPSF). Penn State had three attack errors entering the third game and finished the match out-hitting Grand Canyon .463 to .215.
Penn State had three players with more than five kills in the opener of this two-match non-conference series. Opposite Cal Fisher contributed 10 kills, while middle attacker Sam Marsh had seven kills on a perfect 1.000 attack percentage.
Along with Wildman’s offensive performance, the outside attacker had a match-high four blocks.
Outside attacker Camden Gianni in the loss led Grand Canyon with 12 kills and hit .524.
Gianni was the only Antelope with double-digit kills. Grand Canyon also for this match was without outside attacker Christian Janke, who had 21 kills in its season-opening win last week.