Posted: Oct 11, 2012
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg hit the road and traveled north for a match with the Wildcats of Penn College on Thursday, Oct. 11. Unfortunately for the blue and white, the Lions weren't the cats that came out on the winning end of things on this night. The ladies fell to the home team in three sets by scores of 25-12, 25-11 and 26-24.
After a slow start in the first two sets, Penn State Harrisburg showed a lot of heart in the deciding set and pushed the 16-5 Wildcats to the limit before falling by the slimmest of margins.
The Lions managed just 19 kills on the night with Miranda Jumper (Lebanon, Pa. / Lebanon) recording a team-high five. The senior captain also notched the squad's only service ace of the contest. Freshman Olivia Umoren (Quincy, Mass. / North Quincy) followed her with four kills of her own and sophomore Monica Bishop (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) chipped-in with three.
Freshman Melissa Ganz (Weston, Fl. / Cypress Bay) and Umoren, usually an offensive-minded player, led the way defensively by digging out eight balls each. Jumper showed off her all-around ability and recorded six digs in addition to combining with freshman Kiara Carter (Bronx, N.Y. / Milton Hershey) for the blue and white's only block of the match. Bishop added five digs of her own.
Junior setter Beth Findley (New Providence, Pa. / Solanco) assisted on team-best eight points while the ladies' leader in kills, Chidere Igwe (West Orange, N.J. / West Orange) played the role of set-up woman more than she normally does and recorded the second most assists with four.
The defeat dropped Penn State Harrisburg to 7-15 on the year and kept the squad from keeping any momentum rolling after besting Penn State York just two days prior to falling to Penn College.
The Lions next match comes this Saturday, Oct. 13 at Misericordia before the ladies return home to host North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) powerhouse Gallaudet on Monday, Oct. 15.