WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Junior Emily Hepner (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) became the fourth player in school history to reach 1,500 career digs as the Lycoming College volleyball team hung tough in each set, but fell to Widener University, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-21), in MAC Commonwealth action on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Lamade Gym.
 
Hepner, who entered the match needing two digs to reach 1,500, finished with 17 to give her 1,515 in her career, just 36 from Jackie Moore's mark of 1,551 set from 1997-00, which is third best in school history.
 
Freshman Elle Jednorski (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) led the Warriors (13-16 overall, 1-6 MAC Commonwealth) with seven kills and three blocks and freshman Kiannah Titus (Clay, N.Y./Baldwinsville) added six kills, two aces and a block. Sophomore Lilly Singleton (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) added five kills and seven digs. Senior Catherine Burger (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford), a two-time all-conference selection playing for the last time at Lamade Gym, added 16 assists and five digs.
 
In the first set, the Warriors came back from a 19-14 deficit to draw within a point at 22-21 before the Pride (9-17 overall, 2-4 MAC Commonwealth) closed the set with three of the next four points. In the second, the Pride used a run of five straight points after it was 14-13 to take control in a 25-19 win.
 
In the third set, the Pride took an 18-11 lead before the Warriors stormed back to tie it at 18, using the service of freshman Molly Ball (Sayre, Pa./Sayre), who had two aces in the run. The Warriors took a 20-19 lead, but the Pride closed out the set with six of the next seven points.
 
The Pride were led by 12 kills and seven digs from Nicole Dorman and five kills, 40 assists and 11 digs from Sydney Nichols. Natalie Winn added 10 kills and three aces and Kelsey Lee posted eight kills and nine digs.
 
Before the match, Burger and fellow senior Taryn Wojnar (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Crestwood) were honored for their contribution to Lycoming volleyball in a short ceremony.

The Warriors get back on the court on Thursday, Oct. 19, when they head to Penn State Altoona for a 7 p.m. non-conference match.