MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team concluded its regular season by splitting tri-match action with United East foes Gallaudet and SUNY Morrisville at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 30.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

After falling to Gallaudet (18-11, 7-1) by the narrowest of margins in their first match of the day, the Lions (19-9, 6-2 United East) bounced back with a victory over SUNY Morrisville to cap the 2021 regular season. The Blue & White went the distance with the Bison, falling 25-15, 27-29, 23-25, 25-20, and 16-14. They followed it up with a five-set win over the Mustangs by set scores of 21-25, 25-14, 25-21, 15-25, and 15-13.  

Penn State Harrisburg got off to a slow start against the Bison, falling behind 8-0 to begin the opening set. By the time the second game rolled around, the home team settled down and eventually pulled out a back-and-forth affair that required extra time to decide a winner. In the end, it was Anna Ruff recording the deciding kill off an assist from Alyssa Snyder. The Lions pulled ahead by as many as nine points in the third set and although Gallaudet battled back late, the Blue & White held off the potential comeback. The fourth set was tied as late as 18-18 before the visitors put together a deciding 7-2 run to end the set. In the fifth and deciding game, the Bison took a 14-8 lead before the Lions reeled off six straight to pull even. Unfortunately, the comeback effort came up just short as Gallaudet recorded the final two points to take the set and the match.  

Against Morrisville, the Lions again dropped the opening set. Just like they did in the opener, however, the Blue & White answered by taking the next two sets. They left little doubt in the second game, pulling ahead 17-8 and never looking back. The third set was more competitive, with the visitors trying to erase a late deficit and pulling within one before a service ace by Corrinne Cook put the finishing touches on the victory. The Mustangs ran away with the fourth set to force a deciding contest and looked poised to escape with the win when they took a 13-12 lead but Penn State Harrisburg rallied to score the final three points, including an Emmaline Stevens kill that put an exclamation point on the day's proceedings. 

NOTABLES 

- Against Gallaudet, Melanie Sheaffer had a team-high 13 kills. Cheyanna Buckingham tallied 10 kills and Anna Ruff added nine of her own.  

- Megan Morris finished with 17 digs in the opener. Julia Choe (13), Alyssa Snyder (12), and Olivia Koicuba (10) also reached the double-digit dig mark. 

- Snyder also racked up 38 assists and three service aces.  

- Ruff finished with a match-high five block assists. Buckingham assisted on three blocks of her own. 

- In the second outing, Emmaline Stevens and Melanie Sheaffer tallied a match-best 11 kills.  

- Morris and Corrinne Cook each had 11 digs against Morrisville.  

- Snyder totaled 35 assists in the victory over the Mustangs. 

- Ruff added six more block assists in the final match of the day.  

SENIOR DAY 

Prior to Saturday's contest, Penn State Harrisburg honored its four women's volleyball seniors in Cheyanna Buckingham, Corrinne Cook, Megan Hamm, and Melanie Sheaffer. 

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming United East Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament set to begin next weekend at Penn State Berks. Penn State Harrisburg will have a rematch with Gallaudet in semifinal action on Friday night, Nov. 5. First serve is set for 5 p.m. 

STAY CONNECTED

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using the handle @pshbgathletics.