WHEELING, W. Va.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team plays Gannon in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, November 29, at Wheeling Jesuit University. The first-round match is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start at Alma Grace McDonough Center.
 
A live video broadcast and live stats will be available at http://athletics.wju.edu/news/2012/11/20/WVB_1120124023.aspx.
 
The Lakers earned the seventh seed in the Atlantic Region after going 25-10 in 2012. They reeled off separate winning streaks of 12 and 11 matches. Mercyhurst also beat every other team in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division for the first time in program history. The 25 wins are the most for the program since 1993.
 
Gannon is the two seed in the region. The Lady Knights are 28-5, having won the PSAC regular season and tournament titles this season. They beat Shippensburg in five games in the PSAC Tournament Semifinals and then won a 3-2 decision against Lock Haven in the finals. The 28 wins are the most for the program since the 1993 campaign.
 
Elyse Texido was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year after compiling a school record 651 digs in 2012. Seniors Becky Leusch and Becky Smith were chosen PSAC West Second Team. Leusch led the team with 331 kills, while Smith totaled 246 kills and a team-high 122 blocks.
 
For Gannon, senior Lauren Sazama was named PSAC West Athlete of the Year and Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year. She had 516 kills and 425 digs in 33 matches this year.
 
The Lakers swept the Knights at home on October 9 before GU won in four sets on November 2 and then swept Mercyhurst in the PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals November 13.
 
In other Atlantic Region action, third-seeded California (Pa.) takes on Shippensburg at noon Thursday. Following the Erie showdown, Clarion and Lock Haven face off in the 4-5 match at 5 p.m. and then top-seeded Wheeling Jesuit plays Fayetteville State at 7:30 p.m.
 
The winners of the first two matches will meet in the second round on Friday at 5 p.m., with the victors in the second pair of contests facing off at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The championship match is slated for Saturday, December 1, at 7 p.m. All matches will be hosted by Wheeling Jesuit.
 
All information for the tournament will be updated at http://athletics.wju.edu/news/2012/11/20/WVB_1120124023.aspx. The tournament program is available here.