Basketball Season Hits Homestretch for Penn College Teams

Published 02.07.2011

News
Athletics
Wildcat Weekly

Men's and women's basketball teams, the men's volleyball team and archers all saw action last week for Pennsylvania College of Technology. While it marked the start of the season for archery and volleyball, the basketball players are headed into the final two weeks of their regular seasons.



Men's Basketball
Senior Greg Solyak (Lititz) became the college's all-time leading scorer with an 18-point performance in an 85-80 home win Thursday over Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Solyak needed 14 points to eclipse Joe Simon's mark of 1,425 set last year. Junior Leroy Joiner led the Wildcats with 30 points to hike his career total to 1,403. Nico Italiani (Easton) hauled in 12 rebounds during the win, which allowed Penn College to move into a tie for first place in the Penn State University Athletic Conference North Division with Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

On Saturday at Penn State DuBois, Penn College rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit for a 93-82 victory. Five Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Solyak with a game-high 28. Italiani added 19 points, Joiner 15 points and 12 rebounds, Ethan Kline (Biglerville) had 11 points and Phil Kaylor (Lebanon) 10 points as Penn College opened a half-game lead over Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Women's Basketball
Kierstin Steer (South Williamsport) scored 23 points and Hilary Rice (Biglerville) added 21 in a 65-57 loss to Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

Plagued by 24 turnovers Saturday against Penn State DuBois, the Wildcats lost, 81-68. Steer scored 17 points in the defeat and Stover added 15. Penn College is tied for first in the PSUAC North Division with Penn State Hazleton and Penn State Wilkes-Barre. The Wildcats now have lost their last five games in a row.

Archery
At the Bloomsburg Early Bird Sports Expo, Wildcat Glen Thomas (Mercer) captured the men's open class first flight championship and Zack Plannick (Coraopolis) took the open class second flight title. Tyler Gale (Kennedyville, Md.) placed seventh in the men's open class first flight and Clint Hinton (Lock Haven) was fourth in the open class second flight. Kjirsten Radencic (Liberty) was sixth in the women's open class first flight and Joe Dowdrick (Lebanon) was sixth in the bowhunter division. The college's archery team will be featured during a segment of "The Great Outdoors," from 7:30-8 p.m. Saturday on Fox 56 TV and from 7:30-8 a.m. Sunday on MyNetworkTV.

Men's Volleyball
In its opener at home against a club team from Villanova, Penn College won the first game, 25-16, but narrowly dropped the next three, 25-27, 27-29, 22-25. Adam Smith (Duncannon) had nine kills while Andrew Epley (Littlestown) and James Fortenberry (Lemoyne) each had seven.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Men's Basketball

Overall record: 8-11
PSUAC record: 7-2
Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Penn State Hazleton, ppd. to Feb. 17
Thursday, Feb. 3, host Penn State Wilkes-Barre, W, 85-80
Saturday Feb. 5, host Penn State DuBois, W, 93-82
Monday, Feb. 7, host Penn State Brandywine, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 9, host Penn State Scranton, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 12, at Penn State New Kensington, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 13, at Penn State Beaver, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 15, host Penn State Schuylkill, 8 p.m.

Women's Basketball
Overall record: 7-11
PSUAC record: 5-4
Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Penn State Hazleton, ppd. to Feb. 17
Thursday, Feb. 3, host Penn State Wilkes-Barre, L, 65-57
Saturday, Feb. 5, host Penn State DuBois, L, 68-81
Monday, Feb. 7, host Penn State Brandywine, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 13, at Penn State Beaver, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 15, host Penn State Schuylkill, 6 p.m.

Bowling
Wednesday, Feb. 16, EPCC Tournament at Summit Lanes, Pocono Summit, 3 p.m.

Archery
Friday-Sunday, Feb. 11-13, at World Archery Festival, Las Vegas, Nev.

Men's Volleyball
Overall, MACVC record: 0-1
Sunday, Jan. 30, host Villanova club team, L, 25-16, 25-27, 27-29, 22-25
Sunday, Feb. 6, triangular at Harrisburg Area Community College with Shippensburg, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 9, triangular away with Penn State Altoona and Juniata College, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 12, host Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, noon

(Complete rosters and season schedules are available on the college's Athletics Web site. For more information on the PSUAC, visit on the Web; more about the USCAA also is available online.)

Wildcat Weekly Vol. 9, No. 25