Notes From the Nest: A Weekly Roundup of Juniata College Athletics
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – This week in Juniata College athletics all four winter teams were in action. The men’s and women’s track and field teams kicked off the season at the Orange & Maroon Classic hosted by Susquehanna University. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams faced Landmark Conference opponents in midweek and weekend play and the women’s swimming team took to the pool at Drew University for tri-meet competition. Men’s volleyball began its 2014 campaign on the road in New Jersey.
By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – This week in Juniata College athletics all four winter teams were in action. The men's and women's track and field teams kicked off the season at the Orange & Maroon Classic hosted by Susquehanna University. Both the men's and women's basketball teams faced Landmark Conference opponents in midweek and weekend play and the women's swimming team took to the pool at Drew University for tri-meet competition. Men's volleyball began its 2014 campaign on the road in New Jersey.
Men's Basketball
The Juniata College men's basketball team took on Catholic University of America in midweek Landmark Conference play Wednesday night. While a weak defensive effort by the Eagles let the Cardinals slip past, 78-63, senior Lucas Mellott (Warfordsburg, Pa./Southern Fulton) continued to lead the team on the boards, finishing with a game-high seven rebounds. In Saturday's matchup with Drew University, Juniata showed the strong defense they are capable of, but a last second overtime trey from the Rangers downed the Eagles 64-63. Senior Jeremy Hays (McMechen, W. Va./John Marshall) tied a career-high with six steals and added a game-high 22 points. Juniata, 11-4 over all and 2-2 in Landmark play, spend the net week on the road before returning to Huntingdon for a league matchup with Susquehanna University, Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m.
Women's Basketball
In the final game of a five game road trip, the Juniata College women's basketball team traveled to Washington, D.C. to face the Catholic University of America Cardinals. The Eagles put up a strong fight cutting, Catholic's second half lead down to five with under two minutes to play, but were unable to take the game and fell 67-59. Senior Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area) registered her fourth consecutive double-double, 11th of the season, with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Juniata returned home to host Drew University, Saturday evening, and fell just short of the teams firsts Landmark Conference victory of the season, dropping the contest 67-62 to the Rangers. Junior Kelsey Livoti (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) led the team with 13 points. The Eagles, now 7-8 overall and 0-4 in league play, stay at home for a mid week bout with Goucher College Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m.
Men's Track & Field
The Juniata College men's track and field team opened the indoor season at the Orange & Maroon Classic hosted by Susquehanna University this weekend. The distance medley relay team of seniors Nate Alter (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) and Connor Robinson (Asheville, N.C./Asheville), and sophomores Matt Guetzlaff (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and R.J. Bogdan (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius), two of whom were on the squad that captured second at the Landmark conference championships last season, came in third place. The Eagles will travel to Lewisburg, Pa. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, to compete in the 16th Annual Bison Open hosted by Bucknell University.
Women's Track & Field
In the opening meet of the 2014 indoor season, the Juniata College women's track and field team put in a number of strong individual performances at the Orange & Maroon Classic. Senior Katrina Woods (Shirleysburg, Pa./Mount Union) posted a time of 5:15.45 in the mile to grab first place. Senior Paula Pryor (Westbrookville, N.Y./Burke Catholic) logged a time of 1:03.10 in the 400-meter dash, good enough for fourth on the day and fifth all-time in the Juniata record books, in her first-ever collegiate meet. The Eagles will have two weeks off from competition before traveling to Bucknell University of the 16th Annual Bison Open.
Women's Swimming
The Juniata College women's swim team captured nine events and the overall meet against Drew University and Mount St. Mary this weekend. Freshman Erika Fimple (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) continued to make her mark on the Eagles program, earning individual wins in the 200 IM and the 200 fly and helping the 200 freestyle relay to a win in a time of 1:44.25. Sophomore Emily Nye (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) also helped propel the 200 free relay and captured the 50 free and the 100 breast. The Eagles will host Penn State-Altoona in Binder Natatorium this Saturday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m., in the final home meet of the season.
Men's Volleyball
The Juniata College men's volleyball team opened the 2014 season with two victories at the Golden Dome Invite in Newark, N.J. The Eagles cruised to a first match victory over New Jersey City 3-0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-12). Sophomore Matthew Kinnebrew (Ashburn, Va./Stonebridge) paces Juniata with a match-high 11 kills on 19 swings with only two errors for a .474 average. He also added three service aces and assisted on two blocks. The Eagles then took down host Rutgers-Newark 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-21, 25-18) with junior Paul Kuhn (York, Pa./Central York) terminating a match and career-high 20 kills. The Eagles host a tri-match Friday-Saturday Jan. 24-25 in Kennedy Sport + Recreation Center facing opponents Elmira College, Hunter College, and Kean University.
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