MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team clinched a spot in the upcoming United East Championship Tournament with a 3-1 victory over conference foe St. Mary's (Md.) at the Capital Union Building on Wednesday night, Oct. 25. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg (10-13, 2-2 United East) outlasted the visiting Seahawks (10-15, 1-4 United East) 29-27 in the opening set before being edged 25-22 in the second game. The Lions answered back with a 25-17 win in the third set before closing things out with a 25-21 victory in the fourth and final set. 

The first game was a back-and-forth affair that saw the home team create some separation midway through thanks to an 8-0 run during a Camryn Wettstone service period but St. Mary's responded with a 6-0 spurt of its own to pull ahead 21-20. The Seahawks had three cracks at closing it out but the Lions responded each time and scored the final three points to take the opener in extra play. 

After dropping the second set, Penn State Harrisburg jumped out to an 8-4 lead in set three. The visitors pulled even at 11-11 but the home team reeled off 12 of the next 15 points to claim a nine-point cushion before Wettstone closed it out with a kill off a Katie Richardson assist.

Another close start to the fourth set gave way to another sizable advantage for the Lions midway through the game, as Penn State Harrisburg led 20-13 following another Wettstone kill off a feed from Hannah DeGregory. The Seahawks made one last push and eventually drew to within four but the home team used back-to-back kills from Tiniira Tubo and Carolina Hernandez to end the run before DeGregory wrapped up the match with a kill of her own.

NOTABLES

- DeGregory racked up a team-high 16 kills, 15 assists, 12 digs, and two service aces on the night.

- Wettstone and Amoi Willis added nine kills apiece, while Hernandez and Tubo finished with five each.

- Julia Choe recorded a team-high 21 digs, while Kate Bukowski chipped in with 11 of her own.

- Richardson tallied a team-high 25 assists to go along with six digs.

- Wettstone finished with a team-best four aces, while Tubo recorded three aces herself.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions host Penn State Abington and Alvernia for tri-match action at the Capital Union Building in the team's home finale on Saturday afternoon. 

STAY CONNECTED 

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