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The Behrend Beacon
Volleyball squad captures AMCC crown
by Diane Holtsford
staff writer
Last weekend the Behrend
women's volleyball team
concluded its spectacular season
with its first AMCC Conference
Championship ever. The Lady
Lions traveled to Altoona for the
tournament, where they faced (for
the fifth time this season) Pitt-
Bradford. And like the four
previous meetings, the Lions
defeated them easily.
Unexpectedly, in the final,
Behrend did not play the first seed,
Altoona, which had been upset by
Frostburg in the other semi-final.
But this surprise did not keep
Behrend from emerging victorious
as AMCC champions.
Behrend played Pitt-Bradford in
their semifinal on Friday. They
started off strong in the opening
points but ended up dropping the
first game 31-29. However, this
rocky beginning did not last long,
as the Lions won the next three
games 30-19, 30-21, 30-20 to
clinch the match.
Chris Lightner:
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PHOTO BY PAIGE MILES
Chris Lightner broke the all-time Behrend records for goals and points
in a career, which had stood for more than 20 years.
by Kate Levdansky Petrikis
assistant sports editor
Chris Lightner, Behrend soccer
I player, was recently named the Most
Valuable Player in the AMC('
I Conference after finishing a very
successful career at Behrend.
I "I was very surprised to be
I awarded this honor," said Lightner.
"There are many good players in this
conference, and there are even better
..We came to play, and we were
ready Ifor Bradford I.' said coach
Kale Diehl about her team's 12
straight points to open the match.
Senior Sarah Peterson had II
kills and 21 digs. and Danielle
Bemis had 11 kills and 19 digs.
Jessica Niedermever tallied 13 kills
and 10 digs. while senior Brianne
Engelbert added 21 digs in addition
to her 40 setter assists.
Although the Lions expected to
play Altoona in Saturday's final, the
Behrend team still found delight in
beating Frostburg. the defending
conference champion. The Lady
Lions went up two games against
their opponent, 30-24 and 30-24,
but Frostburg fought hack to win
the third game 30-22. However. a
persistent Behrend team (which
heat Frostburg twice during the
regular season) took the fourth
game 30-23 to take the match and
the coveted AMC(' plaque.
"We were surprised to see
Frostburg in the final, after
practicing for Altoona, but we were
ready to play. - said Diehl. "Even
though we played catch-up every
game, we played with confidence.-
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players on my own team, who also
deserved this award."
The Lions had a number of players
make the All-Conference team. The
first team included Chris Lightner
along with Chad Droz. Dan Falk, and
Mark Steigerwald. The second team
consisted of Travis Lightner and Jake
Hordych. The honorable mention
includes Andy McCormick, Andy
Laver, and Mark Szewczykowski.
"1 felt good hearing that I made the
first team. I have made it my two
Friday, November 9, 2001
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PHOTO BY JEFF HANKEY
years prior to this, but coming back
this year I thought I might have lost
some skill or speed," said Lightner.
"This makes me feel good about
myself, and it shows that I have yet
to lose my soccer skills. I am also
very proud of the other players who
made the teams, and I am very happy
for my brother and his
accomplishments."
This year. Lightner had his younger
brother Travis, as a teammate for
Behrend.
"Playing with my brother, Travis,
is something that I have always
wanted to do. It is fun." said Lightner.
"He plays defense, so I have to go up
against him all the time. He is a tough
defender, but I usually win (just
kidding). We play much harder when
we go against each other, but, I am
the older brother so I have to have the
upper hand on him," said Chris.
"Chris is terrible when it comes to
him versus me." said Travis. "I do
not think I have ever lost when I have
faced him. He is only second best
compared to me."
"Do not believe anything my
brother says," said Chris. "But, we
seriously get along great together. We
are together so much that people
cannot understand how we never
fight. I just see him as a great friend
who I like to hang out with."
"Ile is one of my best friends," said
Travis.
Not only does Chris win awards,
but he breaks records, too. Lightner
broke the record for goals with 28 in
a career in his last regular season
game at Buffalo State. The record had
stood since 1971.
"I had to score two goals to beat
the record and I was lucky enough to
do so," said Lightner. "This was also
very special for me because my
parents, uncle, and cousins, came to
see the game. Especially because, my
Dad has done so much for me.
"I have seen the path he has taken
in life, and I would like to follow his
path and be as happy in my life and
in my family. The reason they were
there was to see if I could break the
record. I really did not think I would
ever be able to break that record. I
have been very lucky with soccer."
Maybe he calls it "luck", but others
would call it talent.
Not only did Lightner break that
record, he recently broke the. career
points record this season with 62,
which had stood since 1978.
"I broke the record against Thiel in
my last home game ever," said
Liehtner. "It was very exciting. I
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PHOTO BY MIKE BELLO
Top: Seniors Sarah Peterson, left,
and Brianne Engelbert, right, fin
ished out their Behrend careers
with an AMCC chapionship.
Left: Trish Krantz, left, and
Peterson watch as sophomore
Jessica Niedermeyer puts a 're
turn-to-sender' on the ball.
knew I was close to breaking it, but I
did not know I was that close. It was
especially nice because it was senior
night, and both of my parents were
there to watch the game.
"The goal was not anything special,
and I have to thank Ryan Ohl for not
kicking it in. I shot it and it was
somewhat blocked and was rolling
slowly toward the goal and he let it
go so I could score. It was very nice
of him, and pretty funny at the same
According to Ohl, he did not even
know it was the record-breaking goal.
"I just did not want to 'steal' the
goal on Senior Night," said Ohl. "I'm
really glad Chris broke the record,
he's a tremendous soccer player and
a great teammate. -
"While playing for Behrend, my
coaches have given me self
confidence, and have taught me a lot
of "off the field knowledge," said
Lightner. "Classes always come first,
because that is why I am in school.
However, soccer is a close second."
Soccer kept Lightner busy with
practices everyday at 3:15 unless there
was a game.
"Every game, I just try to joke
around with the other guys. As long
as I am having fun, then I am feel I
am playing well," said Lightner. "I
do not need to get pumped up to play."
In his spare time, Lightner likes to
spend the weeknights at home with
his Mom and Dad. But, weekends are
another story.
"I love to go out to the bars, or to
parties with my friends," said
Lightner.
Lightner's college milestones
include winning the AMCC
championship in 1997 and 1999.
Lightner's freshman year in 1997 was
the first year Behrend ever won the
AMCC championship, which was
against Frostburg.
"It was a very close game, but it was
so nice to go play as the No. 3 seed
and win," said Lightner.
The win made Behrend and
Frostburg rivals. The second year
Lightner played was in 1999, which
ended up being the second year
Behrend won the conference crown.
"It was much the same as 1997. We
traveled to Frostburg, and were the
underdogs," said Lightner. "The final
was against Frostburg and we won by
a goal."
Lightner started playing indoor
soccer when he was 4 years old. He
played forward, who tries to score or
to set up other players on the team for
shooting opportunities. Lightner
Niedermeyer amassed 13 kills
and 26 digs, and Bemis added 15
kills and 14 digs. Peterson added
11 kills and 15 digs, while
Engelbert had 13 digs to go along
with her 47 setter assists.
This is head coach Kellie Diehl
and assistant coach Greg Diehl's
first season coaching the team, and
they are both excited with this
special, unique season.
"The girls are special and unique,
and we are proud of how they stuck
together through the season; it was
an unforgettable season, - said
Diehl.
The Behrend Lions also had
individual honors to go along with
the team's victory. Engelbert and
Niedernteyer were selected to the
all-conference first-team, and
Bemis had an honorable mention.
Also, Peterson was selected as
AMCC Athlete of the Week for her
outstanding performance in the
conference tournament. The Lions
ended their season with an
impressive 22-10 overall record.
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to victory
played soccer at McDowell High !
School, where he was able to play
in the state championships in
1996.
"It was a fun time, especially 1 . 1
because we were not expected to
do well." said Lightner. 1 ,
"However, we upset many good
teams out of Pittsburgh. Our team •
made it to the finals. and we
played Strath Haven, a team out
of Philadelphia, and they gave us
a good beating. But, at least I
had the opportunity to play in such
a game."
Lightner was also offered a
chance to travel overseas to play
soccer. Lightner accepted and
traveled to Sweden and Denmark,
where his team competed in the
Youth World Cup.
"Our team did not win, but we
played well," said Lightner.
The team was made up of
players from Erie. with some
players from New York. They
were overseas for almost three
weeks, where they played teams
from Germany. Brazil, Argentina,
and many other countries.
"These teams were a collection
of the best players from their
countries, and we were players
from mostly one city," said
Lightner. "Some of the our
opponents, now play professional
soccer somewhere in the world."
Lightner's major is
International Business and
Marketing. He got involved with
this field hoping to do sales.
Many people told him he would
be perfect for the job because he
is personable and easy to talk to.
After Lightner graduates in May,
he would like to enter the field of
pharmaceutical sales.
Lightner is on his way to
Manchester, England, next
semester with teammate and
friend Dave Snook to finish up
their studies at the Manchester
University of Economics.
"I am very excited to be on my
way overseas," said Lightner. "I
will be able to extend my studies
of international business while I
study in Manchester. This will be
a good experience for me. and
something that I will be able to
use in my advantage when
searching for a career. I am
determined in life to succeed and
be happy."
Soriano hit a home run in the eighth
to give New York a 2-1 lead, and it
seemed the Yankees were on their way
to a huge celebration in New York.
especially with Mariano Rivera on the
mound in the ninth. Arizona must have
gotten a hold of that Yankee magic.
because shortly after Tony Womack
doubled home the tying run, Luis
Gonzalez singled home Jay Bell to give
Arizona the series win.
Sure, it would have been great if the
Yankees had won, the whole city would
have turned out for the parade. A
Yankee win would have symbolized a
win for the city of New York. But the
loss did not matter. The players were
already heroes to New Yorkers, and
they, in turn, are heroes to the rest of
us. It all came together through the
game of baseball and the exhilaration
it brought us all. What a series! What
a game! What a country!
behrcolls@aol.com
Housing
and
Food Service
Athlete
of the Week
PEN N STATE
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Trish
(Krantz
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YANKEE
win. The city certainly had its spirit
lifted after this win, and it had every
right to go out and party. New Yorkers
just had no idea what was in store for
them.
In Game Four, the Yankees were
down to their last out when up to the
plate stepped Tino Martinez. He
immediately smacked a two-run home
run to send the game into extra innings.
Then, in the 10th, Derek Jeter belted a
solo home run to bring New York back
into the series and send the 55,000+
fans into a frenzy. It was a magical
evening for all of New York, but no one
would have thought that magic would
repeat itself the next night.
Game Five was almost a mirror
image of Game Four, as once again the
Yankees were down to their last out in
the ninth. This time the hero was
Brosius, who blasted a two-run homer
off Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim to
send the game into extra innings. When
Alfonso Soriano singled home the
winning run in the 12' inning, that was
almost too much for the crowd to
handle. Stunned was about the only
word that could describe New York on
this day.
Of course, Game Six was another
blowout by Arizona, but the best was
left for last. Game Seven culminated
the entire series' intense moments into
an unbelievable turn of events in less
than an hour.