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Lady Lions sweep trifecta Tuesday
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Photo by Dave Boulos/Collegian Photographer
Dig or Die: Junior Jen Leone guides the ball to the setter as
freshman Jamie Bideaux adds support.
These last six matches have been the best
volleyball we've played all season. I think our
team can rise to the occasion this weekend.
--Coach Sharon Gregory
by Nick Zulovich
Sports Editor
The Penn State Behrend Lady
Lion volleyball team is finally as
Head Coach Sharon Gregory put
it "playing up to their potential."
Behrend went 2-0 in tri-match
play Tuesday night, beating both
Oberlin College and SUNY-
"Proven winner" athlete of the week
Photo by Colleen Gritzen/Collegian Photographer
Glmmle that ball: Athlete of the week Phil Gouker makes
a save to preserve a recent shutout for Behrend.
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Fredonia.
The Lady Lions were matched
up with Oberlin first. Behrend
raced out to a 13-3 lead in the
first game and went on to a IS-S
victory.
In the second game the
aggressive Oberlin's Katie Ruth
allowed the Yeomen to tie up the
match with a 15-10 victory.
Sports
But the Lady Lions easily won
the third game 15-4 to claim the
match victory.
Coach Gregory felt Oberlin
was getting predictable on offense
which allowed Behrend to
position themselves properly on
defense.
"Erin McCormick was able to
position herself for the block
against Oberlin's big hitter [Katie
Ruth], You knew right away
who Oberlin was trying to set the
ball up to," explained Gregory.
McCormick explained that
“I’m glad I can excite the team by
making a good play. [Going up
to block] is my job.”
In the second match against
SUNY-Fredonia, Behrend seem to
pick up right where they left off.
Aces by Amy Good and Angela
Georg put Behrend up 5-0 early
in the first game.
After a time out, SUNY-
Fredonia then took advantage of
the Lady Lions' mistakes to take
a 10-9 lead. But Behrend did not
allow another point in the game
and went on to win 15-10.
Behrend found themselves in a
7-2 deficit in the second game.
Then after a series of long rallies
back and forth, the Lady Lions
came back to win the game and
the match 15-10.
"SUNY-Fredonia was taller on
paper, but they hit by position
and you knew where the ball was
going," stated a very happy
Gregory.
Kim Vollmer led Behrend in
kills for both matches with 12.
McCormick added nine kills and
nine blocks. Georg had a good
all around evening with 19
assists and eight kills. The Lady
Lions had 43 digs over the two
matches.
With the victories, the Lady
Lions improved their record to 8-
16 overall.
by Matt Plizga
Collegian Staff
Once again a member of the
men's soccer team has received
the Housing and Food Service
Athlete of the Week. Freshman
goalie Phil Gouker earned honors
this week by posting four
consecutive shut-outs.
Coach Dan Perritano describes
his freshman phenom as "a
proven winner.”
Gouker came from an excellent
program at Quaker Valley High
School where he developed a
“winning mentality."
His background at Quaker
Valley also allowed him to play
against college level competition
over the summer. Gouker
describes college soccer as "a
more mental and physical game
than high school soccer."
He has adjusted to the new
style of play as evident by his
five shut-outs in 10 games.
Gouker has only given up 13
goals in those 10 games, a mere
1.3 goals per game.
"Phil is very athletic and has
outstanding lateral quickness,"
explained Coach Perritano when
Freshman Robin Mangus felt
the team has really improved over
their recent matches.
"Everyone is starting to play
together. Each of us are getting
used to playing together, and
we’re starting to gel as a team,"
commented Mangus.
McCormick added, “Our
communication has really stepped
up. When we talk well on the
court is when we are at our best.”
The Lady Lions are a power
hitting team, but Gregory has
brought in an attack that tries to
keep the opposition on their
heels.
"We run various slides and
sweeps to try to get the
opposition's middle blocker out
of position. We're not a strong
enough team to just power
through a block," Gregory said.
’’Because of the players we
have, each one has to be able to
do a variety of things out on the
court"
Last weekend the Lady Lions
competed in the Gettysburg
College tournament. Though
they only finished 1-4 in their
pool, each match was pushed to
three games.
Jen Leone and Vollmer had
excellent tournaments. Both
Leone and Vollmer racked up 26
kills during the tournament.
Georg was the catalyst for
keeping the ball in play as she
led the Lady Lions with 43 digs.
This weekend Behrend holds a
tournament of their own starting
at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Camegie-Mellon, Notre Dame of
Ohio, and Pitt-Johnstown will do
battle with the Lady Lions.
Pitt-Johnstown would appear
to be the favorite since it is a
Division II school. But Coach
Gregory feels her team will be
ready for any type of
competition.
asked what makes Gouker so
effective.
Captain Kevin (Ulf) Rinehart
says, "Gouker has been
consistent all year. He has made
very few mistakes, none of the
goals have been his fault"
Both teammate Carson McLean
and Coach Perritano agree, "Phil
is a fundamentally sound player
who always makes the big save."
Gouker feels his greatest asset
is "my ability to read the play."
Teammate Brian Fisher says,
"Phil is a solid force at the net,
and a major reason for the teams
success."
Despite his obvious prowess in
keeping the opposing team off
the scoreboard, Gouker gives
Gouker has been consistent all year.
He has made very few mistakes, none
of the goals have been his fault.
-Kevin Rinehart
Thursday, October 5,1995
Collegian Photographer
Practice safe sets:
Freshman Robin Mangus sets
the ball up for a Lady Lion
attack.
"These last six matches have
been the best volleyball we’ve
played all season. I think our
team can rise to the occasion this
weekend," stated Gregory.
McCormick feels it is good for
the team to have to play a higher
level of competition.
“It challenges us to play better.
When we play a team that’s
better than us, it picks up the
spirit of the team to see just how
well we can play.”
much of the credit to his defense.
"Carson, Derrick Lowery,
Chris Nelson, Ryan Schenck and
Dave Harrison all deserve as
much credit for the shut-outs as I
do,” proclaimed Gouker.
His play in front of the goal
has also allowed him to achieve
his major goal entering this
season.
"Coming into this year I just
wanted to play my best and earn
the confidence of my teammates,”
explained the freshman goalie.
Surely he has won his
teammates confidence and perhaps
earned a little respect for the
Behrend soccer program along the
way.