The volleyball team improved to 4-3 overall with a sweep over Lebanon and a shutout over Solanco over the last week.

The Pioneers opened that three-game winning streak with a solid 25-7, 25-13, 25-15 victory over visiting Solanco on Sept. 22. Strong serving (5 aces from Rachael Mann) and net play (7 kills from Emily Mullin and 6 blocks by Jenna Hoover) allowed the Pioneers to control the tempo.

"Serving was definitely key," said head coach Sharon Mullin. "I love having players that are able to place the ball where I ask them to! We have been focusing on serving and serve receive, and it showed.

"In the first two games we ran a 5-1 with Emily Mullin (16 assists) setting," she continued. "In the third set, Callie Reynolds set so Emily could get some swings. Bella Heyser also came in and played well across the front row. Everyone served well, passed well, and hit well. It was a great win at home!"

Early last week, the Pioneers swept the Cedars winning 25-9, 25-19, 25-19 at home on Monday and 25-5, 24-12, 25-11 on the road Tuesday.

Hoover's strong net play included a combined 18 kills and 9 blocks in the two matches. She and Megan Platt combined for 12 digs as well. Offensively, Mullin directed the team with 43 assists and also racked up 18 aces.

GOLF

The golfers opened post-season action with a fourth-place finish at the L-L League Championship held Monday, Sept. 26 at Fairview Golf Course. They were just five strokes behind Penn Manor. Cedar Crest (300) and Township (306) finished first and second.

Ben Wilson fired a 76 and finished 6th overall. Morgan Smith (78), Jason Long (80) and Drew Wilson (80) rounded out the top four counters with Addison Rosa (87) and Kenny Finn (89) challenging.

"I thought the kids played well," said head coach Mike Chiodo. "It was really a tight match.

"Our top four will advance to districts at Briarwood on Oct. 7-8," he added. "Jason is a senior and this is his first year to qualify so I was proud of him to fight back and make the top 19 cut. Drew is a sophomore. He went with us last year when we qualified as a team after winning the league tournament."

BOYS' SOCCER

The boys' soccer team improved to 4-0 in Section Two with an OT win over Manheim Central last Tuesday night. They were coming off a 1-0 non-league loss to Hershey on Saturday, Sept. 24.

"It was a double overtime thriller," exclaimed head coach Chris Garraffa. "We beat Central the first time as well and that also went to overtime. They always play us tough!"

Landon Rice tallied both goals for the visitors. His first came in the 53rd minute and was assisted by Jack Kelly. That knotted the game. In the second extra period, a penalty kick proved to be the game-winner.

"Dan Marcroft was taken down on a breakaway in the box and Landon converted the PK for the win," stated Garraffa. "Another three points and one more step toward our goal of a Section Two title."

FIELD HOCKEY

After knocking off a 3-1 Manheim Central squad Thursday night, Sept. 22, and then handling Lancaster Mennonite 5-1 Saturday morning, the Pioneers faced Ephrata, tied with Central on top of Section Two, on the road last Monday but couldn't duplicate another upset. L-S lost 2-1, the same result they posted against the Barons.

"Everyone played their best game yet against Manheim," praised head coach Katrina Swarr. "We played defense the whole first quarter and gave up a penalty stroke but thankfully transitioned to offense after that and I felt controlled the game from there."

Kara Scranton's bullet shot off a corner tied the game in the third quarter. Both teams had opportunities during regulation, but neither could get past the opposing keeper.

"My 7v7 team stepped up in overtime," said Swarr. "Brook Zuber, Maggie Swarr and Kara Scranton combined for some key defensive plays. Ally Raub and Marissa Rice controlled the midfield and Tori Heiserman and Lyndi Wall were the wheels up front."

Raub sidelined the ball to Heiserman who carried it up the sideline and into the circle where she finished with a chip hit in front of the goalie for the win.

Rice and Wall gave L-S a 2-0 lead in the first quarter against LMH. They never looked back. Heiserman scored twice to pad the lead.

For the second time in five days the Pioneers found themselves battling in overtime. On this night, however, Ephrata improved to 9-1 overall, scoring the final goal at the 1:27 mark.

Mackenzie Westerlund's third quarter goal tied the game at 1-1.

CROSS COUNTRY

Colin Whitaker broke his own course record with a first-place time of 15:59 and the harriers went on to defeat Cocalico (15-50) and Elizabethtown (24-32) in their last home meet. Ben Devine and Parker Stoner gave L-S, who improved to 5-0, the top three places while Luke Smith (7th) and Owen Witmer (11th) rounded out the top five. Andrew Cramer (13th) and Michael Colosi (14th) gave L-S seven runners in the top 14.

The girls' team dropped a 20-38 result against undefeated Elizabethtown but rebounded with a 15-50 win over Cocalico and improved to 3-2 overall.

The Bears secured the top three places before Keira Smecker and Merin Kauffman crossed in 4th and 5th place, respectively. Morgan Wright (8th), Abby Welchans (12th) and Olivia Magagna (14th) rounded out the top five with Jocelyn Wolff (17th) and Mikayla Coe (18th) making the top 20.

"Twenty-one of our 26 runners had PR's," noted head coach Mari Cunningham. "Over the weekend we ran at the PIAA Foundation Invitiational at Hershey. Colin finished second in this competitive race and Ben also received a medal."

TENNIS

The tennis team improved to 6-1 with three wins in five days. They topped Cocalico 6-1 Friday, Sept. 23, and blanked Lebanon and Solanco the 26th and 27th, respectively.

"That leaves us in second place and qualifies us for the playoffs," said head coach Mark Trach.

The Pioneers surrendered just three games in their shutout over Lebanon and took Solanco down in straight sets.

GIRLS' SOCCER

The lady booters offset their 2-0 loss to Ephrata (6-0) with a 3-0 win at Octorara Saturday, Sept. 24. Holding a 1-0 lead on a first half goal by Addie Rodriguez, both Chloe Bucher and Maddison Baker found the back of the net in the second half to help with the shutout.

At home Tuesday, the 27th, Bucher's goal in the 56th minute broke a 1-1 tie. She added an insurance goal five minutes later and the Pioneers (3-6 overall) hung on for a 3-1 win over Manheim Central. Madison Weichler, assisted by Sophia Rhodes, gave L-S a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.

FOOTBALL

Hunter Hildenbrand snagged four catches for 143 yards and one touchdown and Trent Wagner completed 10-of-15 passes and two scores as the Pioneers erased a 7-0 deficit en route to a 23-14 victory over visiting Cocalico Friday, Sept. 23.

The Eagles scored a 79-yard TD on the first play of the game, forcing L-S to play from behind. The hosts responded with Wagner's 8-yard strike to Jackson Heeter and Carson Coleman's (87 yards rushing) two-yard dash. Peter Fiorello's successful PATs left L-S in front 14-7 at the end of the first.

Cocalico cut the lead to 16-14 in the third quarter but couldn't get closer. Hildenbrand's 79-yard pass from Wagner in the fourth and Fiorello's third PAT sealed the deal.

"We played great team defense," said head coach Victor Reidnour. "We gave them short field positions several times and our defense was able to turn them away. Our scout team in practice deserves a lot of credit as well. They gave our defense a good look all week."

That defense included 12 tackles by Harry Wolgemuth and 10 more from both Jack Groff and Heeter, who also earned a sack while Dean Herr chipped in with an interception.