Penn College Coed Tennis Team Starts Wednesday

A year ago, Robert Kemrer was helping lead the Pennsylvania College of Technology coed tennis team to its third straight Penn State University Athletic Conference championship. Now, he is the team's coach.

Kemrer, who captured conference championships at the No. 4 men's singles position in both 2007 and a year ago, succeeds Aimee Plastow, who resigned her position as coach after last season. During her three seasons at the helm, the Wildcats won 42 of 49 matches, in addition to its PSUAC titles. Penn College is scheduled to open its 10-match season Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Penn StateHazleton.

"(Her shoes) are really going to tough to fill. "¦ Basically, we have a new team and that's going to be tough, but we've got a strong team and I'm just looking to compete," Kemrer said.

Talking about the transition he's going through, Kemrer said, "It's tough for me coaching, because obviously I want to play. But, at the same time, I get to hit around with some of the players I played with and help them on some things.

"This is the first coaching experience I've had. I've taken the four years I had in high school and the four years I've had here and I hope to pass on that experience,"he said. "I've always been kind of helpful to other players. I've learned a lot from other coaches and I'll try to use some of their wisdom and my own experience to help these players improve their games."

Expected to start in men's singles are Nate Scott, of Canton, Conn.; Chris Morrison, of Hershey; Adam Smith, of Duncannon; and Adam Groff, of Washington Boro. Rachel Emmons, of Washington, N.J., and Danielle Trout, of Harrisburg, will start in the women's singles positions. Trout has been the conference champ in No. 2 women's singles each of the past two years and she and Emmons have won back-to-back PSUAC No. 1 women's doubles titles.

Kemrer still is unsure of his doubles teams, however other players expected to be in the mix include Caleb Wise, of Manheim, and Robert Beckershoff, of Coatesville.

Also on the roster are Kyle Eccher, of Wellsboro; Andrew Fry, of Jersey Shore; Nick Mancuso, of Hillsborough, N.J.; Heather Miller, of Williamsport; Lance Roan, of Linden; and Jason Stewart, of Reading.

"The returning players gave me a lot of respect as a teammate and they're giving me a lot more respect as a coach. They've been listening to me well and they've been able to help me transition through some things," he said.

"I think we're going to do really well this year. We've got a strong team again -- some really great returning players. I'm hoping to compete really high. We're aiming for a championship, but as long as we compete I'll be happy," the coach said.

FlashbackRain and flooding resulting from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee took a toll on the week's schedule and resulted in midweek postponements for the men's and women's soccer teams, as well as golf and women's volleyball squads.

On Wednesday, the women's volleyball team opened play in the PSUAC with a 25-1, 25-9, 25-5 win overPenn StateScranton. Lyndsey Smith, of Mechanicsburg, notched nine aces and 11 assists. Also for the Wildcats, Courtney Gernert, of Palmyra, led the team with six kills and added four aces.

On Saturday, Penn College's men's cross-country team finished second in a five-team field. Travis Cain, of Bloomsburg, led the way for the Wildcats with a third-place finish in 29 minutes, 48 seconds. Corvin Oberholtzer, of Wellsboro, was 10th in 31:21.

In men's soccer, the Wildcats improved to 2-0-1 with a 3-1 win over York (N.Y.) College at the Centenary College/Holiday Inn Classic. Scoring goals were William DeAngelo, of Dallas; Chris Brennan, of New Hope; and Godwin Omo-Ekpadi, of Norristown. Penn College outshot York, 30-12.

On Sunday, the men's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season, 5-1, to Lebanon Valley College in the Centenary College/Holiday Inn Classic. Brennan scored the lone Penn College goal as it went to 2-1-1 on the season.

Also on Sunday, the women's volleyball team split during competition at Alfred (N.Y.) University, losing to Alfred, 3-1, and beating Morrisville State, 3-1, to go to 4-6 overall.

Schedule/Results Men's Soccer Overall record: 2-1-1 PSUAC record: 0-0-1Wednesday, Sept. 7 at Albright College, ppd. to Sept. 22 Saturday, Sept. 10 vs. York College, N.Y., in Centenary College/Holiday Inn Classic, W, 3-1 Sunday, Sept. 11 vs. Lebanon Valley College in Centenary College/Holiday Inn Classic, L, 5-1 Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Penn State Schuylkill, 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Lycoming College at Balls Mills Soccer Complex, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 host Wilkes University, 5 p.m.

Women's SoccerWednesday, Sept. 7 at Albright College, ppd. to Sept. 22 Saturday, Sept. 10 host Cedar Crest College, ppd. to Sept. 12 Monday, Sept. 12 at Cedar Crest College, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Baptist Bible College, 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 host Lincoln University, 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Lycoming College at Balls Mills Soccer Complex, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Misericordia University, 7 p.m.

Cross-CountrySaturday, Sept. 10 Albright Invitational at Reading, men finished second among five teams Saturday, Sept. 17 JC/Penn State Wilkes-Barre Invitational, 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at Penn State Mont Alto Invitational, 1 p.m.

GolfWednesday, Sept. 7 Penn State Fayette Invitational at Mystic Rock, ppd. to Oct. 3 Thursday, Sept. 15 Mont Alto Invitational at Penn National, 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19 host Penn College Invitational at White Deer Golf Club, 11 a.m.

Women's Volleyball Overall record: 4-6 PSUAC record: 1-0Wednesday, Sept. 7 host Penn State Scranton, W, 25-1, 25-9, 25-5. Thursday, Sept. 8 host Mount Aloysius College, ppd. Sunday, Sept. 11 at Alfred (N.Y.) University, L, 3-1 Sunday, Sept. 11 vs. Morrisville State at Alfred University, W, 3-0 Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre at Penn State Hazleton, noon Saturday, Sept. 17 at Penn State Hazleton, 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 at Penn State DuBois, 7 p.m.

Team TennisWednesday, Sept. 14 at Penn State Hazleton, 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at Penn State Lehigh, noon Tuesday, Sept. 20 host Penn State Mont Alto, 3 p.m.

(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.)

Vol. 10, No. 4