ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team will host a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division matches this weekend. On Friday, October 11, the Lakers face Clarion at 7:05 p.m. The following day, they take on Indiana (Pa.) at 3 p.m. Both contests will be held at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
Live stats for both matches will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/hurst/wvball/.
 
Mercyhurst enters the weekend on a five-match winning streak, including a 3-1 win at rival Gannon on October 8. Rachel Crittle scored 16 points (12 kills, one ace, six block assists) and Nicole Texido recorded 27 digs and four aces as the Lakers won at GU for the first time since 2008.
 
Clarion also won its last match on the road, taking down IUP in five games on Tuesday. Emily Stewart led with 26 points (26 kills) as the Golden Eagles rallied from a 2-1 match deficit to escape with a victory.
 
Indiana has lost four straight coming into the weekend, including the five-game loss to Clarion Tuesday. Elizabeth Sova had 16.5 points (15 kills, three block assists) to pace the Crimson Hawk attack. IUP plays at Gannon on Friday before coming to the MAC the next day.
 
Coach Ryan Patton's squad has a 12-5 overall record and a 6-1 PSAC mark. As a team, the Lakers lead the conference in aces with 1.95 per game and rank third in assists with 11.46 per set. Crittle stands fifth in aces (25) and fourth in blocks (65) this season. Texido's 5.07 digs per game are fourth in the PSAC.
 
Clarion is 16-1 overall and 6-1 in the league. It leads the PSAC in hitting percentage (.242), assists (12.65 per game), and kills (13.58 per game). Corinne Manley is second among individuals with a .365 hitting percentage, while Stewart ranks third with 3.52 kills per set. Laura Subject paces the conference with 655 assists.
 
IUP has a 4-14 record, including a 1-6 PSAC mark. Sova stands seventh in the conference with a .319 attack percentage. She leads the Hawks with 210 points (175 kills, seven aces, 52 total blocks).
 
In 2012, Mercyhurst split two meetings with Clarion and swept Indiana.