ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst volleyball teams will make the short trek downtown for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament match at rival Gannon on Tuesday, November 13. The first-round contest is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the Hammermill Center.
Live stats will be available at
http://www.gannon.edu/athletics/women/volleyba/lstats/XLIVE.HTM. A live America ONE broadcast will be available at
http://www.americaonesports.com/partner_members.asp?id=85.
Tickets will be $7 for adults and $2 for students. Mercyhurst students with a valid ID will be admitted free.
The Lakers finished an historic regular season with a 25-9 overall record. The win total is the highest for the program since 1993. Mercyhurst also posted a 12-7 conference mark, including wins over every other team in the Western Division for the first time since joining the PSAC in 2008.
Coach
Ryan Patton's squad will appear in the conference tournament for the first time since the 2008 season. The Lakers are ranked seventh in the latest NCAA Atlantic Region rankings. The top eight teams in the rankings released Sunday, November 18, qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
The Lakers' senior class has led the team this year.
Becky Leusch has 325 kills, while
Becky Smith has posted 242 kills and 124 total blocks.
Kiera Rebert has dished out 966 assists and
Elyse Texido has recorded 649 digs.
Gannon sports a 25-5 overall record, including a 17-2 mark in league play. The Lady Knights won the PSAC Western Division regular season title. They are ranked third in the Atlantic Region. Senior Lauren Sazama leads GU, having posted 466 kills, 58 aces, and 378 digs in 2012.
The local rivals have split two matches this season. Mercyhurst swept Gannon at the MAC on October 9, but the Lady Knights bounced back with a four-game victory at the Hammermill Center November 2.
The other PSAC West first-round contest features California (Pa.) hosting Clarion on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The highest remaining seed from the Western Division will host the PSAC Final Four this weekend.
