UNION, N.J. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team secured one of the most memorable victories in program history by taking down No. 16 UW-Whitewater in four sets at Kean on the opening night of the weekend's two-day invitational on Friday, Sept. 4. After dropping the opening set 25-22, the Lions (2-1) roared back to win three straight by set scores of 25-22, 26-24, and 25-23.
Brianna Ondishin Ribon led the way with a match-high 14 kills, eight digs, and a pair of service aces. Kate Bukowski finished with a team-best 16 digs, while Mackenzy Miller racked up a team-high 18 assists. Emily Miller and Ellie Brown added three blocks apiece.
After dropping the first set by a slim margin, Penn State Harrisburg jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the second outing. The Warhawks (0-1) answered back and pulled ahead 11-9 midway through but the Lions used a 4-0 spurt to reclaim the lead at 18-13. UW-Whitewater cut the deficit to 24-22 but Brown closed it out with a kill off an assist from Mackenzy Miller.
Penn State Harrisburg got out to another big lead at 7-1 to begin the third set and led by as many eight points following an Ondishin Ribon kill off an Abigail Frownfelter assist midway through. The Warhawks rallied to pul to within two points but the Lions came through with five of the next seven points to go up 23-18. UW-Whitewater answered with a 5-0 spurt and tied things up at 24-24 but back-to-back kills from Camryn Wettstone and Nicole Dos Santos ended the run and clinched the set.
After a back-and-forth start to the fourth set, the Warhawks created a little separation at 15-12 midway through. Penn State Harrisburg stayed within striking distance and never let the deficit stretch beyond three points. Then, trailing 21-18, the Lions put together a gutsy 4-0 run and pulled ahead following an Emily Miller kill. UW-Whitewater cut the deficit to 24-23 but Ondishin Ribon closed things out with her third straight kill to end the match and give Penn State Harrisburg one of its biggest wins in program history.
NOTABLES
- The victory was Penn State Harrisburg's first-ever over a nationally-ranked program.
- Ondishin Ribon had a big night, finishing with 14 kills, eight digs, and two aces.
- Emily Miller finished with nine kills and three total blocks.
- Dos Santos tallied nine kills, nine digs, and a pair of aces.
- Bukowski dug out 16 balls and had three assists.
- Mackenzy Miller racked up 18 assists.
- Brown finished with three total blocks.
- Frownfelter and Tobi West combined for 15 assists.
- The Lions were especially efficient in the fourth set, racking up 16 kills with a .469 hitting percentage.
WHO'S NEXT?
The weekend challenge continues for the Lions when they face (RV) Kean at noon on Saturday before wrapping up competition against Cortland at 2 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
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