MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – For the second straight-season, Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team struggled through a rough campaign, finishing the season 7-24 overall and 1-10 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC). On two separate occasions however, the ladies looked like a well-oiled machine and put together impressive three game win-streaks.
The Lions downed Trinity, Valley Forge Christian and Notre Dame of Maryland in back-to-back outings on Sep. 11 and their home tri-match Sep. 15. Junior Chidere Igwe (West Orange, N.J. / West Orange) led the team in kills during the timeframe with 25 while freshman Olivia Umoren (Quincy, Mass. / North Quincy) added 20 points of her own.
Sophomore Erin Goodyear (Boiling Springs, Pa. / Boiling Springs) tore it up defensively during the same stretch and dug-out 28 balls.
Junior Beth Findley (New Providence, Pa. / Solanco) fared extremely well by doing a little bit of everything including recording 26 digs, assisting on 31 points and racking up eight service aces.
The team's second setter, freshman Katie Shek (Old Bridge, N.J. / Old Bridge), made 17 assists of her own. She also added six aces, as did senior captain Miranda Jumper (Lebanon, Pa. / Lebanon).
Harrisburg put together its second such streak when the ladies took down Wells, Bryn Athyn and Rosemont later in the month.
This time it was Umoren leading the way in kills with 24 over the course of the Lions' three victories while Igwe backed her with 20. Jumper recorded 11 total kills and fellow senior Michelle Pellichia (Allentown, Pa. / Catasauqua) added ten.
Goodyear was stout over the stretch and recorded another 28 digs. Freshman Melissa Ganz (Weston, Fl. / Cypress Bay) helped her team out by digging out 26 balls while Jumper pitched-in with 17.
Findley again led the way in the assists category with 41 in addition to notching seven service aces. Shek assisted on 20 points and Igwe played well at the net, blocking seven shots.
The win-streaks were two of the high points of Penn State Harrisburg's most recent season. Despite the team's underwhelming record, the NEAC recognized Igwe for her strong output this fall by naming her to the league's all-conference third-team.
Be sure to check back for the number eight entry on Penn State Harrisburg's list of the top ten moments of the fall sports season. It's not often that we get two "Storms" in the same week...