UNIVERISTY PARK, Pa. ­– Loyola University Maryland hit .323 in the opening set to take the first frame from seven-time NCAA Champion Penn State, but the Nittany Lions rallied to win the match in four, 22-25, 17-25, 18-25, 17-25, to close the Greyhounds' weekend at the Penn State Invitational.
 
Lauren Link finished with a match-high 21 kills to lead the Greyhounds in the match as they went 1-2 at the tournament with a win on Friday against Duquesne and a five-set loss to West Virginia.
 
Penn State (2-0 overall) led the Greyhounds, 13-11, in the first set, but a block by Kacy Sekunda and Cecylia Guye started a 5-1 Loyola rally that put them up 16-14.
 
The Nittany Lions regained the lead at 19-18 on an Anjelina Strack kill, but Megan Bukala sided out to tie the match for Loyola.
 
Strack responded with another kill, but swings by Link and Guye gave Loyola a 21-20 advantage. Penn State got the next two points, taking a 22-21 lead on a block, but Loyola reeled off the set's final four points to win, 25-22.
 
The Nittany Lions hit .286 the rest of the way, however, to secure the match win.
 
Guye had a team-high three blocks to go with seven kills, and Sekunda had 36 assists. Katie Forsythe and Ally Bauer both had 11 digs to lead the Greyhounds.
 
Loyola will be back in action at Coppin State on Tuesday, August 30. The match at the Eagle's arena will start at 6 p.m.