(Posted February 12, 2002)

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL (3-4, 1-2 EIVA Tait): Feb. 15 at Rutgers-Newark; Feb. 16 at New Jersey Inst. of Tech.
The Penn State men's volleyball team hit .311 as a team, including .519 in the first game on Tuesday evening to help down Juniata in an Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tait Division match, 30-19, 30-21, 30-25. The Nittany Lions are ranked fifth in the latest Division I ratings, while the Eagles owned the third spot in last week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III poll. Juniata, which hit just .123 for the night, got 11 points from sophomore opposite Javier Garcia (San Ignacio/Guaynabo, PR) on 10 kills and two assisted blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Ryan Genova (Antietam/Reading) had 8.5 points on seven kills, one ace and a block assist. Sophomore middle hitter Kenny Eiser (Central Bucks West/Doylestown) had six kills and two assisted blocks for seven points, while hitting .455. Junior setter Scott Kofmehl (North Allegheny/Pittsburgh) passed out 23 assists for the Eagles. On Friday, Juniata had Princeton right were it wanted it after winning a marathon third game, 38-36, to take a 2-1 advantage on its home floor in EIVA Tait Division play. However, the Tigers regrouped and came back to claim a 3-2 (28-30, 30-27, 36-38, 30-24, 15-10) decision and snapped a four-match losing streak to Juniata. Genova led the Eagles with 25 kills, one ace and three assisted blocks. Garcia added in 21 kills (.395 hitting percentage) and eight assisted blocks. Junior middle hitter Luke Manion (North Allegheny/Pittsburgh) had 14 kills (.444 hitting percentage) and three block assists. Sophomore libero Pat Shawaryn (Hempfield/Lancaster) led all players with 12 digs, while Kofmehl dished out 72 assists and had five kills, four digs and two aces. On Saturday, Juniata rebounded to down visiting Division III rival New York University in three straight games, 30-27, 30-25, 30-26. The Violets are ranked fourth in Division III. Garcia led the Eagles with 16 points on 14 kills and two aces. Manion tallied 14 points with 11 kills (.579 hitting percentage) and six assisted blocks. Genova finished with 12 kills and an ace for 13 points. Junior outside hitter Neil Lukas (Fairport/Fairport, NY) registered 10 points on eight kills (.636 hitting percentage) and four assisted rejections. Lukas also paced the unit in digs with nine, while Shawaryn added in eight digs and Kofmehl distributed 42 assists and had three digs.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (12-11, 8-4 Commonwealth): Feb. 13 at Lebanon Valley; Feb. 16, Moravian.
Freshman center Katie Charles (Manheim Township/Lancaster) scored a team-best 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds (seven offensive) to help Juniata clinch a spot in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs for the third straight year with a 64-56 home win over rival Susquehanna on Wednesday night. Charles scored 13 of her 16 in the second half to help the Eagles come back from a four-point deficit early in the final 20 minutes of play. In addition to Charles, Juniata got 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals from senior forward Brandy Preslovich (Bald Eagle Area/Moshannon) and 10 points and four assists from senior guard Kelly Grove (Penns Valley/Spring Mills). Preslovich has now reached double figures in 20 straight games this winter. Senior guard Kelli Young (United/Vintondale) had seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and two points. On Saturday evening, Charles scored a game-best and a season-high 22 points, while Preslovich reached double figures in scoring for the 21st straight game with 12 points to lead Juniata to an 85-55 win over visiting Albright in Commonwealth play. In addition to her point total, Charles had seven rebounds and three steals. Preslovich also had six steals for the Eagles. Juniata has now won 9 of its last 12. Young and Grove had 11 points each for Juniata. Young was eight of eight from the foul line and had six assists and three steals, while Grove was three of four from three-point land. All but two of the 14 Juniata performers who made an appearance in the game scored at least one point.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD: Feb. 15 at Susquehanna Invitational.
On Saturday, Juniata journeyed to Franklin & Marshall for a non-team scoring invitational. The Eagle women got a top-five showing from freshman Betsy Kusniez (Boyertown Area/Gilbertsville) in the shot put as she took fifth with a toss of 30' 2 ½". In addition, the 4x200-meter relay unit placed fifth (2:06.13). On the men's side freshman Jeremy Weber (Garden Spot/Mohnton) won the long jump with an effort of 21' 9 ¾". He was also second in the triple jump (41' 4 ½"). The 4x200-meter relay unit was victorious as well (1:34.40). Junior Dusty Lehr (Bermudian Springs/New Oxford) placed third in the pole vault (13' 7 ½"), the high jump (6' 2") and the 55-meter high hurdles (7.98). Lehr rounded out his day by taking fifth in the 55-meter dash (6.89). Senior Ashley Mort (Blue Mountain/Orwigsburg) was second in both the 55- (6.75) and 200-meter (23.57) dashes. Junior Noah Fredette (Weedsport/Weedsport, NY) was the runner-up in the 800-meter run (2:02.80), while freshman Jason Freeman (Thornton/Thornton, CO) took fourth in the same race (2:07.24). Daniel Morris (Robinson School/San Juan, PR), a freshman, was fourth in the 55-meter dash (6.81). Junior Nick Wolfe (McConnellsburg/McConnellsburg) placed third in the 400 meters (53.05). The Juniata 4x400-meter relay squad was second as well in 3:41.18.

MEN'S BASKETBALL (10-12, 3-9 Commonwealth): Feb 12 at Lebanon Valley; Feb. 16, Moravian.
Susquehanna shot 50 percent from the field on Tuesday evening to help the Crusaders post an 80-72 win at Juniata in Commonwealth Conference action. Sophomore forward Ben Gallagher (Butler/Butler) led the Eagles with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Juniata stayed close from long range, hitting 6-of-17 from behind the three-point arc. Sophomore forward Travis Martin (Huntingdon/Huntingdon) added 19 points and nine rebounds as the Eagles shot 47.5 percent from the field for the evening. Juniata did post a 35-33 edge on the glass. On Saturday, Gallagher scored 27 points and recorded eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals to lead Juniata to an 80-62 Commonwealth victory at home over Albright. The Eagles snapped a seven-game losing streak and swept the season series with the Lions with the 18-point triumph. Albright is coached by former Eagle mentor Rick Ferry, who is in his first year with the Lions. In addition to Gallagher, senior guard Shane Crandall (North Alleghey/Doylestown) tallied 16 points (10 of 11 from the foul line) and four assists. Martin had 14 points, including 11 in the second half, and four rebounds.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING (3-7, 1-4 MAC Commonwealth): Feb. 15-17 MAC Championship at Widener.
Juniata was not in action this past week, but will return to the competitive pool this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship hosted by Widener. The Eagles will be looking to improve on last year's program-best fourth-place showing.

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.