READING, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team dropped a five-set decision to Gallaudet in the semifinal round of the United East Championship Tournament on Friday night, Nov. 5.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg nearly knocked off the No. 2-seeded Bison on the campus of Penn State Berks on Friday night but was edged in five sets by scores of 25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 23-25, and 15-9 to end the team's 2021 campaign.

Gallaudet jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening set and while the Lions were able to cut the deficit to three midway through the game, the Bison made a late push to close things out and claim the early advantage. The second set was close throughout but the Blue & White used a 6-3 run to end the game, capped by a Tiniira Tubo kill off a Katie Richardson assist.  

The Lions pulled ahead 6-1 to begin the third set but Gallaudet made a run midway through the game to get back into it before eventually recording seven of the final nine points to take set three. Penn State Harrisburg answered with another strong set in the fourth, grabbing an early lead before the Bison made things close midway through. With things tied at 22-22, the Blue & White reeled three of the final four points to draw even at two sets apiece.

In the deciding set, the Lions pulled ahead 8-7 thanks to another Tubo kill off a Richardson assist. From there, however, the Bison put together pivotal 8-1 run that clinched the set and the match fort Gallaudet.

NOTABLES

- Katie Richardson racked up 49 assists on the night; the second-highest single-match total in program history.

- Melanie Sheaffer led the way offensively, totaling 15 kills. Tiniira Tubo had 12 kills, while Anna Ruff and Emmaline Stevens added 10 each.

- Megan Morris recorded a match-high 29 digs. Richardson dug out 13 balls and Stevens added a dozen digs.

- Tubo had three block assists, while Ruff and Megan Hamm chipped in with two apiece.

- Julia Choe accounted for a pair of service aces.

- Penn State Harrisburg finished the season with a winning record for just the third time in program history.

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