READING, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought five-set decision to Alvernia on Tuesday night, Sept. 3., but the spotlight was on senior Julia Choe as she surpassed former standout Casey Stump to become the program's all-time leader in service aces at 146 and counting. 

Hannah DeGregory was all over the floor for the Lions, as she finished with 14 kills, 15 assists, 13 digs, two service aces, and a pair of block assists. Emmaline Stevens also had 14 kills and led the team with 30 digs, while Kate Bukowski had 15 digs of her own. First year Mackenzy Miller tallied 26 assists and five service aces. 

Penn State Harrisburg (3-1) came firing out of the gate when they took a 6-0 lead to put Alvernia (2-2) down early in the first set. The away team maintained their lead from the very first point of the frame and captured the opener 24-17. Initially, the second set seemed to be going in favor of the Lions once again, however the Golden Wolves came alive and tied the match 1-1 by a score of 22-25. 

The home team was in control for much of the third set, until Penn State Harrisburg took control in the back half which was started by a kill from Brianna Ondishin Ribon to tie the game 20-20. DeGregory contributed a kill to put the Lions up by two before adding a service ace and then an assist to Alex Jurney to seal the third frame win 25-23. The fourth was another back-and-forth battle between the two squads and ended in favor of the Golden Wolves by the same score of 23-25. 

Alvernia forced the match into a fifth set, where they were a dominating force from the start and they never looked back. The Lions eventually tried to claw back, but it was too late in the shortened fifth-set action that ended 11-15 and marked the Golden Wolves' second win of the young season. 

HISTORY MADE

During the second set of the night, Choe served an ace against Alvernia to become Penn State Harrisburg's all-time ace leader. The Sterling, Va. native added one more ace for good measure later in the match, to bring her career total to 146 and counting. 

NOTABLES

- Stevens tied the team high with 14 kills and led the Lions with 30 kills. She added a pair of assists and two service aces. 

- DeGregory also had 14 kills on the night, to go along with 15 assists, 13 digs, two service aces and two block assists. 

- Miller tallied 26 assists in her setter position for Penn State Harrisburg and had five aces and six digs. 

- Bukowski racked up 15 digs, while Choe added 14 digs of her own. 

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions travel to Goucher on Saturday, Sept. 7 for a tri-match against the host and Canton. Penn State Harrisburg starts off the day with Goucher at 11 a.m. before facing Canton right after at 1 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED 

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.