After dominating Delaware State, the Nittany Lions advanced to the second round and were ready to take on North Carolina — one of the top teams in the ACC.
The No. 8 seed Tar Heels were sure to give Penn State some problems. However, semifinalist for the National Player of the Year, Jess Mruzik, came alive with 21 kills — her first 20-kill game since Nov. 8 against Northwestern — to cruise past the second round in four sets.
From the first serve, the Livonia, Michigan, native came out with a ferocity that fans hadn’t seen in weeks.