Box Score WHEELING, W. Va.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team lost, 3-1, to Gannon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Knights won by scores of 25-13, 20-25, 26-24, and 23-25 match was played at the Alma Grace McDonough Center on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit University.
 
The Lakers showed tremendous heart in the fourth game. Trailing 24-13, Mercyhurst reeled off 10 straight points to make GU sweat. Elyse Texido served, recording two aces as Nicole Texido and Becky Leusch had kills in the run. Megan Wendel finally ended the match with a kill at 24-23.
 
In the first game, Gannon went ahead early and did not look back. The Knights went up 4-1 and then 11-4 as the Lakers tried to settle in. GU eventually won the set, 25-13.
 
The Lakers fought back in the second frame. Becky Leusch's kill tied it at 4 and then two Gannon errors gave Mercyhurst the edge. Points by Camille Alvarez and Rachel Crittle kept the Lakers in it as the teams traded points. Leusch and Crittle posted kills and then Becky Smith had a kill for a 15-14 Laker advantage. The Beckys continued their solid play as Mercyhurst slowly stretched its lead. An Alvarez kill made it 23-18 and then Balasko put away a loose ball to even the match at 1.
 
The third set featured stellar play on both sides of the net, as the score was tied on 14 different occasions throughout the game. Kills by Sarah Vick and Leusch gave the Lakers a 21-19 advantage. Gannon responded with four straight points. Leusch bounced back with consecutive kills to even the score at 23. After a Knight point, Balasko tied it again with a kill. Lauren Sazama eventually closed the frame with a kill from Megan Wendel.
 
Mercyhurst ended its 2012 with a 25-11 record. It represents the most wins for the program since 1993. The Lakers defeated every other team in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division for the first time ever. They also posted separate winning streaks of 12 and 11 matches. Seniors Elyse Texido, Becky Leusch and Becky Smith were all named all-PSAC West, as Texido was chosen Defensive Athlete of the Year. This was the team's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.

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