Hopewell graduate Christa Harmotto completed another fine season for the Penn State women's volleyball team.

The Lady Lions came within one win of an NCAA Division I final four berth after a 3-1 loss to Washington on Dec. 9 in the finals of the West Regional at Seattle. Harmotto recorded 13 kills and six blocks in the loss.

Harmotto recorded 316 kills in 111 games played, for an average of 2.85 kills per game. She also recorded 175 blocks, an average of 1.58 per game, which ranks first on the team.

Harmotto was a two-time high school All-American, leading Hopewell to three WPIAL titles and one PIAA title.

Geneva keeps it local

The Geneva College women's basketball team is off to a 6-2 start, due mostly to the contributions turned in by district products Jackie Anthony, Allyson Clarke, Renee Rawding and Lauren Uranker.

Anthony, a 5-foot-1 senior guard from Rochester, leads the team with a 14.4 points and 2.5 steals per game average.

Clarke, a 6-0 junior forward from South Side Beaver, is averaging 12.8 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with a 10.0 per game average.

Rawding, a 5-9 sophomore forward from Blackhawk, is averaging 12.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Uranker, a 5-5 junior guard from South Fayette, is averaging 10.0 points and 2.3 assists per game.

Wrestler of the week

Freedom Area graduate Matt Hill has been named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week.

Hill, a 157-pound senior at Edinboro University, posted a pair of victories to improve his unblemished record to 14-0.

Hill exorcised a demon of sorts with a 6-1 win over Seth Martin of Lock Haven on Sunday. Hill came into the bout ranked No. 8 in the country by Amateur Wrestling News, while Martin was ranked 11th. Martin defeated Hill three times a year ago.

Hill is a three-time NCAA Division I qualifier. He placed fourth in the Eastern Wrestling League as a sophomore and third last season. He has a career mark of 87-35.

Hooping it up at Waynesburg

Blackhawk graduate Marc Lodovico and Ambridge Area grad Josh Parisi are starters on the Waynesburg College men's basketball team.

Lodovico, a 6-1 senior guard, is averaging 12.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, and leads the team with 33.1 minutes of playing time per game. He is shooting 52.5 percent from the field, 68.2 percent from the free-throw line and has 16 assists in seven games.

Parisi, a 6-5 junior forward, is averaging 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting 39.3 percent from the field, 72.7 percent from the foul line, and has 16 assists in seven games.

Moon graduate Zach Engel, Burgettstown grad Steve Bielecki and Riverside grad Josh McCanna are also members of the Waynesburg College team, but all three have seen very little playing time. Engel is a sophomore, while the others are freshmen.

He earns No. 1 ranking

North Allegheny graduate Jake Herbert is ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds in the NCAA Division I rankings, according to Wrestling International Newsmagazine.

Herbert, a junior at Northwestern University, is off to an 11-0 start after posting a 36-1 record last season at 174 pounds. Herbert placed second in the NCAA tournament last year after winning a Big Ten Conference title.

Herbert participated in the 41st annual NWCA All-Star Classic, which took place Nov. 20 at the Dallas Convention Center. He dominated his match against Minnesota's second-ranked Roger Kish. Kish was the NCAA runner-up at 184 pounds last season and is the reigning Big Ten champion at that weight, but Herbert took control early and never let up to take a 10-2 major decision.