MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's coaches, players and fans paid tribute to the 2011 Lions' lone senior, Carla Martin (Manheim, PA/Home Schooled), prior to their match with Goucher on Wednesday, Oct. 26.  Unfortunately for the host squad, once the game got underway, it was all Gophers.  Ultimately, Penn State Harrisburg fell in three sets 25-19, 25-14 and 25-10 in the team's home finale.

The Lions came out of the gate strong and took an early lead over their counterparts.  But midway through the first set, the Gophers mounted a comeback and despite a late Penn State Harrisburg charge, they held off the blue and white and clinched the pivotal first contest.

The Lions again claimed early leads in both the second and third sets, but unlike the first, they weren't able to the score close.  Midway through both sets, Goucher went on timely scoring runs that put things out of reach and sealed the victory for the Gophers.

Even in defeat there was some good news for Penn State Harrisburg as the ladies' finally got outside hitter Jocelyn Mitchell (Heath, OH, Heath) back on the court.  Wednesday's match was the sophomore's first since going down with an ankle injury on September 3.  Erin Goodyear (Boiling Springs, PA/Boiling Springs), another victim of the injury bug, also played the entire match.

Mitchell and Chidere Igwe (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) led the way offensively for the Lions with six kills apiece.  Setter Maddie Daubert notched 15 assists and junior captain Miranda Jumper (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) dug out a team-high seven balls.  Goodyear added six digs as well.

If anything positive can be taken from this season that has been so plagued with injuries, it's that only one player will be graduating.  But that one player has been an integral part of Penn State Harrisburg volleyball the past four years.

Martin, a Communications major and the team's 2011 senior captain, recorded an impressive 594 digs during her time as a Lion defensive specialist.  She has also been a model student, earning back-to-back North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) scholar-athlete awards in 2009 and 2010.  Head Coach Bob Creason made it clear that she will be sorely missed.

"Carla joined the volleyball team four years ago because she wanted to learn the sport," he said. "Coupling her strong persistence and desire to win with constant hard work, she learned the game and how to be an excellent volleyball player.  Everybody will miss her drive and her smile."