(photos courtesy of Perry Bindelglass)

CLICK HERE to view the 2007 Women's Volleyball Media Guide
 

2007 NEWS
 

Carnegie Mellon ousts Lions from ECAC Tournament
11.7.07
Third-seeded Carnegie Mellon abruptly ended the Penn State Altoona volleyball team's first-ever appearance in the Eastern College Athletic Conference South Region Championships Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.  The host Tartans beat the sixth seeded Lions in straight games by scores of 30-21, 30-14, 30-23 to advance to the semifinal round.  It marked the final career game for seniors Sara Kylor, Sheena Cooper, and Megan Goss, who combined for 14 kills and 43 digs.  Kylor had nine spikes while Goss recorded a team high 29 digs.  Sophomore setter Lisa Byars had 23 set assists for Altoona, who concluded the 2007 campaign at 21-9 overall.  More information regarding this game will be made available in the coming hours.   

Five named to volleyball all-conference team
11.4.07
After narrowly falling in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship and concluding the 2007 season with a 21-8 record, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team had five players selected as all-AMCC performers, the conference office announced Sunday.  Sophomores Lisa Byars and Lauren Carter along with senior Megan Goss were 1st team honorees while seniors Sara Kylor and Sheena Cooper received 2nd team and Honorable Mention recognition, respectively.  Byars (Punxsutawney, PA/Punxsutawney), who was an Honorable Mention pick in 2006, leads the conference in set assists at over 12 per game and earlier this year broke the all-time school record for career assists.  She also holds the Penn State Altoona records for number of assists in a three, four, and five game match, all of which she set this season.  After transferring from Division II Clarion University, Carter (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) wreaked havoc on opposing teams all year and led the Lions in kills, blocks, and hitting percentage.  She also ranks among the top three in the AMCC in the aforementioned categories.  Goss (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon) has been a model of consistency as the Lions' defensive specialist and averages more than five per game for her career.  She will leave Penn State Altoona as the all-time digs leader and also holds records for number of digs in a three, four, and five game match.  Goss was a first team all-conference performer in 2005 before earning Honorable Mention honors last season.  Kylor (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon) broke the 1,000 kill mark earlier this year and will leave as the career kills leader at Penn State Altoona.  A first team performer in 2006, Kylor also holds the school records for most kills in a three, four, and five game match.  Cooper (Windber, PA/Windber) is the only player in Penn State Altoona volleyball history to have earned all-conference recognition four consecutive years.  She was a 2nd team honoree as a freshman in 2004 and nabbed Honorable Mention honors in both 2005 and 2006.  She ranks second on the all-time kills list behind Kylor and could break the 1,000 kill plateau if the Lions qualify for the ECAC playoffs.  For the complete AMCC Volleyball All-Conference award winners, CLICK HERE.

Volleyball falls to Frostburg State in conference title match
11.3.07
Top seed and tournament host Frostburg State fell behind 2-1 only to rally back for a stunning five game win over defending champion Penn State Altoona in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference volleyball championship match Saturday in Frostburg, MD.  Frostburg State will represent the AMCC in next week's NCAA Division III Tournament at a site to be announced.  Penn State Altoona, who fell to 21-8 overall, will hope for an invitation to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region Championships which also begin next week.  The visiting Lions nabbed the opener 30-27 and narrowly captured game three 30-28.  The Bobcats took games two and four by identical 30-20 counts to set up a fifth and final tilt, which they also won 17-15.  Altoona was again led by sophomore middle hitter Lauren Carter, who finished the match with 19 kills and nine total blocks.  Seniors Sara Kylor and Sheena Cooper tallied 14 and 12 spikes, respectively, as sophomore setter Lisa Byars handed out 50 set assists.  Senior Megan Goss had 51 digs for the Lions, who lost to the Bobcats in five games for the second time this season.  Just 10 days ago on October 24, Frostburg edged the visiting Lions 30-28, 30-17, 26-30, 26-30, 15-9 to take over first place in the conference standings.  The championship is the eighth for the Bobcats in the 11 year history of the AMCC.  Only Penn State Behrend (2001 and 2005) and Penn State Altoona (2006) have dethroned the Bobcats in conference title tilts since 1997.  The Lions will hear from the ECAC selection committee on either Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Volleyball advances to AMCC Championship
11.2.07
In a rematch of last year's Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championship, Penn State Altoona once again got the better of Penn State Behrend, earning a convincing 3-0 victory in the conference semifinals Friday night in Frostburg, MD.  The Altoona Lions, seeded third, advanced to their second straight AMCC final against top seed Frostburg State Saturday at 1:00 PM.  The lead exchanged hands a number of times in the opening game until Altoona eventually pulled away for the 30-28 victory. After Behrend jumped out to an early advantage in game two, Altoona reclaimed the lead at 8-7, then scored 17 of the next 24 points to go ahead 25-14.  The Erie Lions got to within 27-24 before Altoona scored three straight points for a 30-24 win.  The defending conference champs stifled any ideas of a Behrend comeback by maintaining a five point advantage most of game three en route to the 30-23 match win.  Sophomore Lauren Carter fronted the Altoona attack with 19 kills and also recorded five block assists.  Senior Sara Kylor had 16 kills, and setter Lisa Byars recorded 47 set assists.  Senior libero Megan Goss led the team in digs with 26 while classmate Sheena Cooper had 22 and freshman Jess Tirko tallied 21.  Altoona improved to 21-7 overall and tied the 2005 Penn State Altoona squad for the most wins in a single season in program history.  The triumph avenged a 3-1 regular season setback to Penn State Behrend just six days prior in Erie.  If the Lions are victorious on Saturday against the Bobcats, they will represent the AMCC for the second straight year at the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The official tournament bracket will be unveiled on Sunday at ncaasports.com.

Volleyball falls at Behrend, will host first round playoff game
10.27.07
After upsetting Penn State Behrend on its home court in last year's AMCC title game, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team was unsuccessful in its first trip back to Erie, dropping a 3-1 match to the Behrend Lions Saturday and falling to third in the conference standings.  The hosts narrowly won games one and two by identical 30-28 counts before Altoona nabbed a 30-24 win in game three.  But Behrend pulled out a 31-29 game four victory to send the visiting Lions to their second straight setback in AMCC action and a first round AMCC Tournament game.  Sophomore Lauren Carter had 17 kills in defeat while senior Sara Kylor recorded 16 kills.  Setter Lisa Byars notched 45 assists for Altoona, who fell to 19-7 overall and finished conference play at 7-2.  Three Altoona players had 40 or more digs including senior libero Megan Goss, who finished with 61 digs.  Freshman Jess Tirko had 49 digs, and senior Sheena Cooper tallied 40 digs and connected on 11 kills.  Penn State Behrend improved to 18-11 overall, 8-1 in the conference, and secured a first round bye in the upcoming AMCC Tournament.  Altoona will enter the playoffs as the #3 seed and host the #6 seed Pitt-Greensburg on Tuesday night, October 30, at 7:00 PM at the Adler Gym.  The Lions downed Pitt-Greensburg on October 10 in four games (28-30, 30-12, 30-28, 30-22) as interim head coach Tick Hedrick-Sheaffer earned her 500th career win.

Volleyball drops first conference game at Frostburg State
10.24.07
Frostburg State handed the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team its first conference setback of the season in a five game thriller Wednesday night in Frostburg, Maryland.  The host Bobcats won the opening two games 30-28 and 30-17 only to watch Altoona rally back for a pair of 30-26 wins in games three and four.  Frostburg emerged victorious in the fifth and final game by a 15-9 count and received 29 kills from sophomore Brooke Winterling on the night.  The Lions, who dropped to 19-6 overall and 7-1 in AMCC play, got 19 kills from sophomore Lauren Carter and 16 and 14 kills, respectively, from seniors Sheena Cooper and Sara Kylor.  Kylor also chipped in 25 digs while fellow senior Megan Goss dug up 34 attacks.  Sophomore setter Lisa Byars recorded 65 assists which broke her own school record (60) for assists in a five game match set earlier this season at Pitt-Johnstown.  With Penn State Behrend earning a win on Wednesday, a three-way tie exists for first place in the AMCC standings as Frostburg, Altoona, and Behrend all sport identical 7-1 conference records.  Frostburg controls its own fate, and with a victory on Saturday at Pitt-Bradford, they will earn the #1 seed in the conference playoffs and host the semifinal and final rounds.  Altoona and Behrend square off in Erie Saturday at 4:00 PM.  If Frostburg wins Saturday, the winner of Altoona/Behrend earns the #2 seed and the loser gets the #3 seed.  If the Bobcats lose Saturday, they will be the #2 seed, and the winner of Altoona/Behrend will receive the top seed.

Lions remain undefeated in AMCC
10.20.07
The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team remained undefeated in the AMCC with a 3-0 victory over Hilbert College Saturday afternoon in Hamburg, NY.  The Lions  received 18 kills from Sara Kylor and 18 digs from the school's all time leader, Megan Goss.  Scores of the match were 30-17, 30-17, 30-20.  Reigning AMCC player of the week Lisa Byars added 38 assists for Altoona. The victory improved the Lions' record to 19-5 overall and 7-0 in the AMCC. The team is back in action on October 24^th when they travel to AMCC rival Frostburg State for a 7:00 match.

Volleyball downs Susquehanna on Senior Night
10.17.07
The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team made sure seniors Sara Kylor, Sheena Cooper, and Megan Goss went out in style Wednesday evening as the Lions downed Susquehanna 3-0 at the Adler Gym.  Match scores were 30-11, 30-25, 31-29.  Kylor, the all-time kills leader at Penn State Altoona, finished the night with 12 kills, six digs, and three service aces.  Cooper chipped in with seven kills to go along with 11 digs and four service aces while Goss, the school's career digs leader, ended with 18 digs.  The senior trio has a four year record of 72-34 dating back to 2004 and helped bring the program its first AMCC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance last year.  Sophomore Lauren Carter aided the effort with 11 kills, six digs, and four blocks, and setter Lisa Byars handed out 35 assists.  The squad improved to 18-5 overall and remained 6-0 in the AMCC.  Altoona plays its last three regular season games on the road beginning with this Saturday's contest at Hilbert.  Match time is 1 PM. 

Volleyball cracks regional rankings for first time; men's soccer eighth in region
10.16.07
The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team has climbed into the latest NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings for the first time in program history, nabbing the eighth and final spot in the October 10 poll.  The Lions are currently 17-5 overall, 6-0 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, and 13-4 against teams from the Mid-Atlantic Region.  Four of Altoona's five losses have come to Division III teams who are regionally or nationally ranked.  On August 31, Altoona lost a five game bout to Ithaca College, who currently occupies the seventh spot in the New York Region.  A week later, the Lions fell to the Mid-Atlantic Region's sixth place team, York College.  The final two setbacks were to Haverford College, who ranks 11th in the nation and second in the Mid-Atlantic Region, in the Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen Tournament September 14-15.  Despite a 2-0 loss at the hands of Medaille on Sunday, the Penn State Altoona men's soccer team remained eighth in the latest NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional rankings.  The Lions received 17 points in the voting after going 1-1 on the week including a 2-1 victory over Frostburg State.  Dating back to last season, head coach John Parente's squad has been ranked in 12 of the last 14 NSCAA polls.

Volleyball cruises past Medaille
10.13.07
Lauren Carter had 12 kills and four service aces as the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team cruised past visiting Medaille in straight games Saturday at the Adler Gym.  Match scores were 30-12, 30-9, 30-9.  Seniors Sheena Cooper and Sara Kylor chipped in nine and seven kills, respectively, while sophomore setter Lisa Byars handed out 35 assists.  Eight different Lions recorded at least one kill, and 10 players had one or more digs including senior Megan Goss, who tallied 11 to go with four service aces.  Freshman Jess Tirko led the squad in digs with 14, and sophomore Brittany Kilmer added four kills and four blocks.  Penn State Altoona improved to 17-5 overall and 6-0 in the AMCC.  The Lions conclude their regular season home schedule on Wednesday, October 17, with a 7 PM non-conference showdown against Susquehanna University.  Cooper, Kylor, and Goss will be recognized prior to the match as part of Senior Recognition Night.

Volleyball falls in five games at Pitt-Johnstown
10.3.07
The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball had its six game winning streak snapped Wednesday evening as it dropped a thrilling five game match to Division II Pitt-Johnstown.  The Lady Cats took game one 30-26 before Altoona persevered for a 31-29 game two victory.  UPJ won game three 30-20, only to have the Lions even the match with a 31-29 game four triumph.  The deciding fifth game seesawed back and forth until the hosts finally pulled ahead for the 18-16 decision and 3-2 match win.  Senior Sara Kylor had a season high 22 kills in the contest while Lauren Carter and Sheena Cooper added 17 and 15 kills, respectively.  Setter Lisa Byars had 60 assists and shattered her own school record for most assists in a five game match.  She recorded 51 assists a season ago in a contest against Thiel College.  Megan Goss led the team in digs with 40 and added two service aces.  Freshman Taylor Hrescak led Pitt Johnstown with 13 kills, Kristin Irwin had nine kills, and Casey Jo Ritenour collected seven kills, four block solos and five block assists.  Penn State Altoona returns to action next Wednesday, October 10, as AMCC foe Pitt-Greensburg visits the Adler Gym.  Match time is set for 7 PM.   

Four earn AMCC Player of the Week honors
10.1.07
Four Penn State Altoona athletes have been recognized by the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference as Players of the Week for the week of October 1, the conference office announced late Monday.  Volleyball middle hitter Lauren Carter, women's soccer forward Emily Schneider and goalkeeper Amber Werner, and men's soccer forward Bryan Pierzga all collected P.O.W. honors for outstanding individual play.  Carter recorded some gaudy stats in a 2-0 week to keep the Lions atop the league standings.  She averaged five kills, one block, and two digs along with a .398 hitting percentage in straight game sweeps over Mount Aloysius and Pitt-Bradford.  It was the second Player of the Week selection this season for the Bellwood native after earning the honor on September 17.  Schneider recorded a goal in every game this week, helping the Lions to three consecutive wins. She had the game winner in a 1-0 victory over Lake Erie and added an insurance goal against Pitt Greensburg to keep the Lions undefeated in conference play.  Werner helped the squad to two shutouts in a 3-0 week, making eight saves and allowing a single goal. The freshman has the lowest goals against average in the AMCC (0.66) and has been part of four shutouts so far this season.  Pierzga is no stranger to AMCC hardware as he earned his fourth career Player of the Week selection and second this season.  He had both game-winners in a 2-0 week for Altoona, who sits alone atop the conference standings.  Pierzga had the only goal his team needed in a 6-0 decision over Pitt-Greensburg, then notched his 50th career goal in a 2-0 win over Lake Erie.  Pierzga's career point total now stands at 127, an incredible 77 more than the next closest Lion player.

Volleyball stays perfect against Pitt-Bradford
9.29.07
The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team remained unbeaten in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action Saturday after taking down Pitt-Bradford in straight games.  Game scores were 30-23, 30-21, 30-26.  Penn State Altoona improved to 14-4 overall, 3-0 in the AMCC, and has not dropped a single game thus far in conference action.  The trio of Lauren Carter, Sara Kylor, and Sheena Cooper combined for 40 kills in the match.  Carter had 17, which improved her kills per game average to 4.04.  Lisa Byars contributed 47 assists to aid the Lions offensive attack.  Defensively, Megan Goss led Altoona in digs with 19 while Olivia Hallihan recorded a team high seven blocks.  The squad is back in action on Tuesday when it travels to La Roche for a 7:00 PM match. 

Volleyball takes down Mount Aloysius in straight games
9.26.07
Behind 13 kills from sophomore Lauren Carter, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team downed visiting Mount Aloysius in straight games Wednesday evening at the Adler Gym.  Match scores were 30-26, 30-25, 30-23.  Game one seesawed back and forth before the Lions took their first lead at 25-24.  The Mounties led almost the entire way, holding a 19-14 advantage midway through the opener.  After a solid game two victory, Altoona jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third and final contest and held a commanding 24-17 lead late en route to the match win.  Sara Kylor and Brittany Kilmer had 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while setter Lisa Byars handed out 41 assists.  Senior Megan Goss led the Lions in digs with 22.  Mount Aloysius received 11 kills from Tessa Paronish and 10 kills from AMCC Preseason Player of the Year Brianna Baker.  Bishop Guilfoyle graduate Kate Byrne recorded 31 assists for the Mounties, who dropped to 5-9 overall and 0-2 in the conference.  The Lions improved to 13-4 overall and 2-0 in the AMCC.  Penn State Altoona is back in action on Saturday, September 29, as it travels to Pitt-Bradford for a 1:00 PM match.

Local trio earn AMCC Player of the Week honors
9.17.07
Penn State Altoona men's soccer players Bryan Pierzga and Marc Zajac along with Lion volleyball standout Lauren Carter were named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Players of the Week for the week of September 17, the conference office announced Monday.  Pierzga was named the MVP of the Penn State Altoona Challenge Cup Tournament, scoring the game-winning goal in both contests to lead the Lions to the championship.  Pierzga racked up four goals and one assist in a three win week and boosted his season total of game-winning scores to four in five games.  It is the State College native's third career AMCC Player of the Week selection.  Zajac, a freshman from Altoona, picked up his first career Goalkeeper of the Week honor.  He started in net for both games of the Penn State Altoona Challenge Cup, allowing just one goal and making six stops en route to a pair of wins.  Carter, a sophomore middle hitter from Bellwood, is in her first season at Penn State Altoona after spending her freshman campaign starring at Clarion.  Carter was named to an all-tournament team for the third straight week, this time at the Flying Dutchman Tournament hosted by Lebanon Valley College.  In a 2-2 team effort, Carter contributed 3.53 kills per game and 1.73 blocks per game.  Her highlight performance was a 23 kill, 8 block, 3 ace performance in a 3-2 win over York College.  She currently leads the AMCC in blocks (1.42 bpg) and ranks second in hitting percentage (.411).

Volleyball takes second at Lebanon Valley Tournament
9.15.07
The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team took home runner-up honors this past weekend at the Lebanon Valley College Tournament in Anniville, PA.  The Lions finished the two-day event at 2-2 with both losses coming to Haverford College, who is currently ranked 16th in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.  On Friday evening, Altoona easily handled Neumann College in straight games behind 10 kills and 16 digs from senior Sara Kylor.  The final game of the night was a 3-1 setback to Haverford by scores of 26-30, 13-30, 30-19, and 21-30.  Sophomore Lauren Carter led the Lions with 15 kills while sophomore setter Lisa Byars passed out 42 assists.  On Saturday, Altoona squared off with a York College team that defeated the Lions one week earlier to claim the Muhlenberg Tournament title.  But in a five game, come-from-behind thriller, the Lions downed York 26-30, 19-30, 30-24, 36-34, 15-10 to earn another shot at Haverford in the championship match.  Haverford took the finale in straight games 30-32, 27-30, 8-30 to drop the Lions to 9-4 overall on the season.  Carter had 23 kills in the York contest and was named to the all-tournament team for the third consecutive weekend.  Penn State Altoona will open its home slate on Tuesday evening for a non-conference match against Messiah College at 7 PM. 

Balanced attack helps Lion volleyball team down Lycoming
9.5.07
The Penn State Altoona volleyball team received contributions from a number of players Wednesday evening in Williamsport as the Lions downed Lycoming in straight games.  Match scores were 30-25, 30-14, 30-25.  Setter Lisa Byars recorded 36 assists on the night, feeding middle hitter Lauren Carter for a match high 13 kills.  Outside hitters Sheena Cooper and Sara Kylor chipped in with ten and eight kills, respectively.  The win avenged last year's 3-0 setback to the Lady Warriors in Altoona.  The Lions are back in action this weekend as they travel to the Muhlenberg College Tournament.  There, the Lions will meet Centenary College and the University of Mary Washington on Friday evening, September 7.  Altoona defeated Centenary in last weekend's Greyhound Premiere Invitational in straight games.

Volleyball wins three of four at Moravian Tournament
9.1.07
The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team opened the 2007 season by winning three of its four matches at the fifth annual Greyhound Premiere Invitational hosted by Moravian College.  Senior outside hitter Sara Kylor and sophomore middle hitter Lauren Carter were also selected to the all-tournament team for their efforts in the two day event.  On Friday, August 31, the Lions defeated Rowan University in straight games 30-14, 30-12, and 30-13 before falling in a dramatic nightcap to eventual tournament champion Ithaca College.  The seesaw affair went all five games as Ithaca prevailed 30-26, 22-30, 30-23, 19-30, 15-10 and knocked Penn State Altoona from Saturday's Championship Bracket.  Instead, the Lions faced Centenary College and Alvernia College in the Gold Bracket, easily defeating both schools in straight games.  Altoona, which improved to 3-1 on the young season, beat Centenary 30-16, 30-16, 30-12 before downing Alvernia 30-13, 30-15, 30-15.  The Lions are back in action Wednesday, September 5, as they travel to Lycoming for a non-conference clash with the Lady Warriors.  Match time is set for 7:00 PM. 

Volleyball is preseason favorite to win AMCC
8.13.07
After capturing its first ever Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship last season, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team will enter 2007 as the repeat favorite, according to the AMCC Preseason Coaches Poll released last week.  The Lions, under the direction of fifth year head coach Aaron Bowers, are forecasted to take the 2007 crown while last year's AMCC regular season champion Penn State Behrend was picked to finish second.  Frostburg State, Lake Erie, and Mount Aloysius rounded out the top five.  Lady Mountie middle hitter Brianna Baker, who led the AMCC in hitting percentage and was second in blocks per game, is the conference Preseason Player of the Year.  Penn State Altoona seniors Sara Kylor and Sheena Cooper were tabbed as players to watch in 2007.  Kylor was a first team all-conference selection last season and finished 32nd nationally in kills per game (4.37).  Cooper was an honorable mention all-AMCC pick in 2006 and averaged 3.60 digs per game.  To view the full 2007 AMCC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, click here.