(MIDDLETOWN, Pa.) – A midweek challenge took the Wilson women's volleyball team to the state capital to take on Penn State-Harrisburg on Thursday evening. Although the Phoenix fell in three sets, they progressed through the match and nearly took the third game to force a fourth.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 0, Penn State-Harrisburg 3 (25-10, 25-7, 25-22)
Venue: Capital Union Building
Records: Wilson 0-8, Penn State-Harrisburg 5-3
How It Happened
- Wilson came out and was competitive from the start leading off with a kill from Jenna Dixon (Fr., California, Pa. / California). After two points by the Lions, the Phoenix followed with a kill from Niki Schussler (So., Chambersburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley Christian) and regained the lead on an error by the hosts. Another pair of PSU-Harrisburg errors saw both teams evenly split the opening 10 points. A 9-0 run by the Lions, however, changed the tide and the Harrisburg went on to take the opening set.
- The momentum carried into the second as the Lions took a 6-1 lead to start. A Schussler ace sandwiched between a pair of PSU errors put Wilson back in it at 6-4, but another long rally put the hosts up by double digits en route to a 2-0 lead.
- The third set was one of the best the Phoenix have played all season as they jumped out to one of their biggest leads all season. Another Schussler ace followed by a Deah Menedis (So., Reisterstown, Md. / Franklin) kill capped a 7-1 rally to open and forced Harrisburg to call an early timeout. After Harrisburg gained the lead at 11-10, Wilson answered immediately with the next three points. The Lions fought back to a 17-14 lead before the Phoenix rallied one final time with a 5-0 run. Menedis and Schussler were both responsible for two points in the rally to give Wilson a 19-17 lead.
- Another Menedis kill and an ace from Allyson Garcelon (Fr., Shrewsbury, Pa. / Susquehannock) set the score at 21-19, and an error put Wilson up 22-20. The push ended there as Penn State-Harrisburg came back and scored the next five points to take the sweep.
Inside The Numbers
- Menedis led the team with seven kills. Schussler added five as the other offensive threat.
- Schussler was busy elsewhere around the court as she added four more points. Three of them were from service aces for a new season best, and the other was up front as she made one of two solo blocks for the Phoenix. Garcelon provided the other.
- Speaking of Garcelon, she set up the offense with 13 assists.
- Defensively Schussler led the team with 10 digs.
Up Next
Another road tri awaits the Phoenix as they will head to Williamsport to take on Penn State-Berks and Lycoming this Saturday. They will open with Berks at 1 p.m. before closing the day with Lycoming at 3.
