Penn College Basketball Teams Headed for Playoffs

Published 02.13.2011

News
Athletics

The Pennsylvania College of Technology men's and women's basketball teams, with Penn State University Athletic Conference records of 10-3 and 6-6, respectively, are headed for the playoffs Saturday. Their opponents, game times and sites will be decided later in the week. The men have the second-best record in the conference, behind Penn State Beaver, and continue to lead the North Division.

FLASHBACK Men's Basketball Penn College rolled to a 51-34 halftime lead and held on at the finish for an 86-83 win Monday over Penn State Brandywine. Leroy Joiner (Williamsport) scored 25 points and grabbed 22 rebounds, while Greg Solyak (Lititz) added 22 points and Nico Italiani (Easton) 13. Joiner's effort lifted him into second place on the college career scoring list as he surpassed Joe Simon's 1,425.

On Wednesday against Penn State Scranton, Joiner tallied 27 points and hauled in 15 rebounds in a 79-60 win. Solyak and Italiani each added 13 points.

On Saturday at Penn State New Kensington, Penn College won, 83-77. Solyak led four Wildcats scoring in double digits with 28, while Joiner added 20.

The Wildcats saw their five-game win streak snapped Sunday in a 71-49 loss at Penn State Beaver. Joiner led the team with 15 points. The game was tied at 34-all at the half, but Penn College hit justfour of 28 shots from the field in the second half.

During the week, Solyak was honored as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 6. He averaged 23 points in two games and became the college's all-time leading scorer.

With the season winding down and USCAA post-season playoffs on the horizon, Penn College, 11-12 overall, is ranked No. 13 in the most recent Coaches' Poll. The 10-team field will compete March 1-5 at Penn State Fayette in Uniontown.

Women's BasketballThe Wildcats fell behind Penn State Brandywine 42-21 at the half and lost, 79-56, on Monday. Kierstin Steer (South Williamsport) led the Penn College offense with 14 points and Tosha Stover (Bellefonte) added 11.

Sunday at unbeaten Penn State Beaver, the Wildcats lost, 96-47. Steer scored 20 points as the team hit just 15 of 55 shots.

Penn College, 8-13 overall, is third in the PSUAC North Division behind leading Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Hazleton.

Men's VolleyballIn a triangular Feb. 6 at Harrisburg Area Community College, the Wildcats lost to the host team, 17-25, 25-16, 23-25, 21-25, and topped Shippensburg, 25-11, 25-21, 25-17. Andrew Epley (Littlestown) had 31 kills and 22 blocks on the day and Brad Kabosky (Hunlock Creek) had 35 assists.

On Wednesday, Penn College beat Penn State Altoona, 25-23, 25-14, 23-25, 25-23, and lost to Juniata College in a tough five-game match, 18-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 9-15. For the night, Epley had 29 kills and Adam Smith (Duncannon) had 27 while Kabosky had 48 assists.

On Saturday, the Wildcats completed a 4-2 week with wins over Bloomsburg, 25-20, 25-14, 25-12, and Lock Haven, 25-19, 25-10, 25-21. For the day, Smith had 24 kills, Epley had 21 kills and Kabosky had 75 assists.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS Men's Basketball Overall record: 11-12 PSUAC record: 10-3 Monday, Feb. 7 host Penn State Brandywine, W, 86-83 Wednesday, Feb. 9 host Penn State Scranton, W, 79-60 Saturday, Feb. 12 at Penn State New Kensington, W, 83-77 Sunday, Feb. 13 at Penn State Beaver, L, 71-49 Tuesday, Feb. 15 host Penn State Schuylkill, 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 at Penn State Hazleton, 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 PSUAC quarterfinals at highest seeds, to be announced Tuesday, Feb. 22 PSUAC semifinals at Bryce Jordan Center, 9 and 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 PSUAC championship at Bryce Jordan Center, 9 a.m.

Women's Basketball Overall record: 8-13 PSUAC record: 6-6 Monday, Feb. 7 host Penn State Brandywine, L, 79-56 Wednesday, Feb. 9 host Penn State Scranton, W, fft. Sunday, Feb. 13 at Penn State Beaver, L, 96-47 Tuesday, Feb. 15 host Penn State Schuylkill, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 at Penn State Hazleton, 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 PSUAC quarterfinals at highest seeds, to be announced Tuesday, Feb. 22 PSUAC semifinals at Bryce Jordan Center, 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 PSUAC championship at Bryce Jordan Center, 11 a.m.

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

Men's Volleyball Overall record: 4-3 MACVC record: 3-1 Sunday, Feb. 6 triangular at Harrisburg Area Community College with Shippensburg, def. Shippensburg, 25-11, 25-21, 25-17; lost to HACC, 17-25, 25-16, 23-25, 21-25 Wednesday, Feb. 9 triangular away with Penn State Altoona and Juniata College, def. Penn State Altoona, 25-23, 25-14, 23-25, 25-23; lost to Juniata College, 18-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 9-15. Saturday, Feb. 12 host Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, def. Bloomsburg, 25-20, 25-14, 25-12; def. Lock Haven, 25-19, 25-10, 25-21. Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 19-20 at Kutztown University Tournament

(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. 26