Penn State New Kensington freshman middle hitter Brittany Wofford gets a jump on a return.
Playoff implications loom for all three teams.
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- In the midst of the their conference schedules, the Penn State New Kensington men's soccer, women's volleyball and coed golf teams are home for the next five days. All three teams are jockeying for playoff berths in the upcoming Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) championships.
Soccer (1-2-1, seventh place) hosts Penn State York (2-1, fourth) on Saturday, Oct. 3 and Penn State Worthington Scranton (2-2, fifth) on Sunday, Oct. 4. Both games start at 1 p.m. at the campus soccer field. Volleyball (2-3, eighth) entertains York (3-4, seventh) and Penn State Hazleton (0-6, 14th) on Sunday, Oct. 4 in the Athletics center. The York match begins at noon, followed by Hazleton at 2 p.m. Golf faces Penn State Mont Alto and Penn State DuBois at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Links at Spring Church, in Apollo, Pennsylvania.
Soccer
Under the direction of first-year head coach Sam Lauris, the soccer team is looking to make the postseason for the fifth time in the five-year existence of the program. The Lions are led by sophomore midfielder Cole Wilson and sophomore forward Pascal Bikanura. Cole leads the team in points with six on three goals and three assists. Bikanurais tied with Cole in scoring with three goals. Six teams earn playoff invitations. The championship game is set for Sunday, Nov. 1, at the University Park campus.
Volleyball
Second-year head coach Amy Sigmund’s volleyball squad is led by a trio of outside hitters, sophomore Shania Eckman and freshmen Bethany Weiblinger and Brittany Wolford. The Lions are seeking their second consecutive spot in the playoffs. Eight playoff berths are available for the conference title that is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24, at Rec Hall on the University Park.
Golf
The golf team, with third-year head coach Tom Crombie at the helm, is using the regular season to prepare his young squad for the conference championships. The Lions’ number one player is junior Grant Rukat who is steadily dropping his scores to the low 80s. All PSUAC golf campuses compete for the conference team and individual championships, Oct. 12-13, at the Penn State Blue Course in State College.
For more about New Kensington athletics, visit http://psnkathletics.com/landing/index
Penn State New Kensington's Pascal Bikanura (10) beats his man down field.
Bikanura is tied for the team lead with three goals