McKeesport, PA. – On a week when the Penn State Greater Allegheny athletic department saw their fall sport regular seasons come to an end, it was offensive prowess that helped name our PSUGA Male & Female Athletes of the Week. Soccer’s Dario Marina (Pittsburgh, PA./Baldwin HS) and Volleyball’s Alix Ellis (Derry, PA./Derry Area HS) were named the PSUGA Athletes of the Week with both powering their teams to victory.
Marina led the PSUGA soccer team with two goals as they picked up their first Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) win over Penn State Wilkes Barre on Saturday by a score of 3-2 in overtime. After his team fell behind 1-0 early, Marina tied the game in the second half taking a pass from Namy Makiese and finding the net. As the game shifted to overtime, Marina had his number called once again. He broke through the defense and scored the game-winning goal just one minute into the extra time.
It was a special day for Marina both on and off the field as he was honored as part of the pre-game senior day ceremony. Marina led the team in 2019 with a career-high five goals on 27 shots, 19 on goal. Marina has been a staple on the defensive side of the ball for PSUGA and his presence as the team’s center back will be big shoes for PSUGA to fill.
For Ellis, she led a dominant offensive attack as she helped her team secure the #3 seed in the PSUAC playoffs, their first trip since the 2014 season. Ellis came up with back-to-back 19 kill games in the team’s tri-match on Saturday as she helped her team split the two games. She has been one of PSUGA’s most trusted defenders this season and continues to come up big in big situations.
Ellis currently sits in third place in the conference with 280 kills and fourth with a .314 hitting percentage. Ellis has set new career highs in kills (280), digs (162), total attacks (656), and assists (12) this season and has grown into her leadership role in her second season in a PSUGA uniform.
With the PSUGA fall sports regular-season wrapping up today, the playoffs are here and both PSUGA Volleyball and Cross Country are competing. The Volleyball PSUAC Playoff Tournament kicks off on October 24th while the PSUAC Cross Country Championships takes place on Saturday, October 26th at Penn State Mont Alto starting at 11 a.m.
