MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The 2013 season will present some new challenges for Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team.  Not only will the Lions replace two senior captains from a year ago, they will also face the toughest top-to-bottom schedule they have ever had thanks to the program's jump from the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) to the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC).  Luckily for the Blue & White, a talented group of returners is back this fall and head coach Bob Creason expects his newcomers to gel with the returners and help build towards a successful campaign.

"While last year we had a very disappointing result, we have a great deal of optimism coming into 2013," said Creason.  "A combination of an improving core of returning players mixed with an excellent batch of new arrivals should develop into a satisfying year."

Anchoring that crop of returners is 2012 NEAC third-team all-conference selection in senior Chidere Igwe (West Orange, N.J. / West Orange).  Igwe led the team in kills and blocks a year ago.  She will be complimented by the Lions' setting duo consisting of senior captain Elizabeth Findley (New Providence, Pa. / Solanco) and sophomore Katie Shek (Old Bridge, N.J. / Old Bridge).  The pair combined for 487 assists last fall.  Penn State Harrisburg's defense should be sound as well, with junior libero/defensive specialist Erin Goodyear (Boiling Springs, Pa. / Boiling Springs) and sophomore libero/defensive specialist Melissa Ganz (Weston, Fla. / Cypress Bay) both back this season.  Goodyear accumulated 272 digs last in 2012 while Ganz dug out 191 of her own. 

"Other players improving solidly on the front line are Olivia Umoren (Quincy, Mass. / North Quincy) and Kiara Carter (Bronx, N.Y. / Milton Hershey)," said Creason.  "Both are coming into their sophomore seasons ready to make a difference."  Umoren amassed 150 kills and 20 blocks last season while Carter used her size to stop 11 opposing shots. 

Joining that experienced group on the court this fall will be a promising collection of newcomers, consisting of both incoming freshmen and transfers.   

"Our defense has gotten stronger by adding transfer Jessica Farabaugh (Palmyra, Pa. / Palmyra Area) into our current crew of Erin Goodyear and Melissa Ganz," said Creason.  "Another transfer in Megan Sheaffer (Palmyra, Pa. / Palmyra, Pa.), along with newcomers Marion Chlipala (Cape Coral, Fla. / Oasis Charter) and Izabella D'Onufrio (Clarksboro, N.J. / Gloucester County), are going to add some offensive firepower to help us be a fierce opponent in the CAC."  Farabaugh gives the Lions a third option at libero while Sheaffer and D'Onurio give the team some much needed size.  Chlipala's powerful striking ability has been one of the most notable stories of the preseason.

Penn State Harrisburg will learn the ropes of its new conference with a "trial by fire" attitude.  Both Christopher Newport and Salisbury reached the NCAA Division III championship tournament final four last fall and both were ranked in the NCAA's preseason top 25 poll released just a few weeks ago (Newport #5, Salisbury #22).  The Lions get the squads back-to-back on Oct. 18 and Oct. 24.  The Blue & White face Newport at the Spooky Nook complex in Manheim, Pa. but must travel to Salisbury this season. 

Penn State Harrisburg Women's Volleyball:

Head Coach: Bob Creason

2012 Record: 7-24

Key Returners: senior Chidere Igwe, senior Beth Findley, sophomore Olivia Umoren, junior Erin Goodyear, sophomore Melissa Ganz, sophomore Katie Shek, sophomore Kiara Carter…

Key Newcomers: freshman Marion Chlipala, freshman Izabella D'Onufrio, sophomore Jess Farabaugh, freshman Megan Sheaffer…

Team Captains: Findley, Farabaugh…

Circle the date: Saturday, Sep. 14 vs. Penn State Abington @ 10 a.m., vs. Wesley @ 12 p.m., vs. Notre Dame (Md.) @ 3 p.m.

• The Lions face a familiar foe from the NEAC in Penn State Abington, a soon-to-be yearly opponent in the CAC's Wesley and a beatable Notre Dame of Maryland squad all in the same day.  A 2-1 showing should be what the Blue & White is shooting for and by the time the sun sets, the afternoon's W-L result will attest to exactly what kind of talent this year's team possesses.