Warriors Look Strong in Season Opener

Williamsport, Pa. – It has been said that once you make it to the top, it is harder to stay there than it was to actually get there.  With that in mind, it’s always nice to tuck that first victory under your belt. 

The Warriors (1-0), reigning Freedom Conference champions, started out the 2005 campaign in strong fashion after defeating Penn College (0-1) in three games on Thursday night.  Lycoming jumped on the Wildcats 30-11 in game one, allowed a few more points in taking game two 30-17, but reasserted itself with a 30-11 game three triumph.

Junior Lindsey Artz (Hegins, Pa.) and sophomore Hannah White (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) led the Warriors’ effort from both sides of the ball.  Artz recorded 15 kills and .417 hitting percentage to spearhead Lycoming’s offense, but also notched a match-best six blocked shots (five solo).  White turned in an eye-popping .846 hitting percentage on her way to 12 kills in 13 total attacks.

Senior Jillian Bolesta (Sugar Notch, Pa.) contributed half a dozen kills without a miscue in her eight attacking opportunities.

As a team, the Warriors were better than efficient in the attack hitting at a .500 clip on 42 kills with only eight errors in 68 total chances.

Setters Danielle Busch (Claymont, Del.) and Jennifer Snyder (Eastchester, N.Y.) combined for 24 assists in shared duty. 

The victory marked Lycoming’s first step towards a repeat appearance in the NCAA Division III national tournament.  Last season, the Warriors earned an automatic bid into the tourney after claiming the Freedom Conference title.  They eventually fell to Eastern University in the first round.