It has been nearly three weeks since Pitt-Johnstown women’s volleyball team opened its season as defending champions and through nine games the team has yet to play in front of a home crowd.

That is to change this weekend as the Lady Cats are scheduled to play in their season’s first home game Friday night against Kutztown University.

Not only will it be homecoming weekend but the Lady Cats are scheduled to do something Pitt-Johnstown athletics has not seen in close to 20 years, a banner raising.

“We are super excited and we are hoping that homecoming will bring more fans to the opening game to watch our banner get raised,” sophomore outside hitter Marissa Erminio said.

The banner would be only the third hanging from the rafters inside the Sports Center.  The two hanging now are the 1996 and 1998 national championship wrestling teams.

“The wrestling program here is one of the country’s best so to even be mentioned alongside them is quite an accomplishment,” she said.

There are to also be free nachos for Friday night’s game in attempt to increase student attendance to watch the pregame banner ceremonies.

“It feels good to bring honor to the school, but we know that all other (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) teams are working extremely hard to a conference title as well,” senior setter Nikki Oakes said.

The Lady Cats are scheduled to top off homecoming weekend at Pitt-Johnstown with a matchup against East Stroudsburg University as part of a tripleheader Saturday includes men’s and women’s soccer games.