(Lock Haven, Pa.) -  Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania women’s volleyball player Kathryn Stallings (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) was selected as one of ten student-athletes to receive the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Fall Top Ten Award.  The PSAC Top Ten awards recognize five female and five male student-athletes from the conference who distinguish themselves in the classroom as well as in the arena of athletic competition.  The PSAC designates Top Ten Award winners after each of the competitive sports seasons -  fall, winter, and spring.
              Stallings, a 5’10” senior middle hitter, helped lead Lock Haven’s PSAC Champion squad to a 26-10 record and a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championships.  A two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC player, Stallings wrapped up the 2000 season as LHU’s leader in kills (401) and blocks (153; 43 solo), and was second on the team with a .338 hitting percentage.  Also the PSAC leader in blocking this season, she leaves Lock Haven as the all-time blocking leader with 625 blocks, and is third on the all-time kills list with 1,307 successful attacks.
            An excellent student, Stallings carries a cumulative 3.67 GPA while majoring in Biology at Lock Haven, and is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete.
            To be a candidate for the Top Ten Awards, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials.  Only student-athletes from the fall sports season are eligible for the Fall Top Ten Awards.  Those sports include men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer, women's tennis, and volleyball.
            The Top Ten Awards provide the PSAC an extra tier in the recognition of the top student-athletes on all PSAC squads with 3.25 cumulative GPA's or better.  Additionally, the PSAC names the top Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  

### 

Dec. 7, 2000 - HAVEN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS EARN DAKTRONICS ALL-REGION SELECTIONS 

(Lock Haven, Pa.) -  Three members of Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania's volleyball team were named to the inaugural Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Division II Volleyball team, as selected by sports information directors of volleyball-playing institutions in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region.   Earning first team recognition were senior middle hitter Kathryn Stallings (Mechanicsburg/ Mechanicsburg) and junior setter Shana Fessette (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown Central), while senior middle hitter Stefanie LaFata (Reading/Holy Name) was a second team selection.  Players selected to the First Teams of all eight regions will be placed on the national ballot.  The Daktronics All-America Teams will be announced on December 20.
            Kathryn Stallings was LHU's leader in kills (401) and blocks (153; 43 solo), and was second with a .338 hitting percentage.  Also the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference leader in blocking this season, Stallings leaves LHU as the all-time blocking leader with 625 blocks, and is third on the all-time kill list with 1,307 successful attempts.  Stallings is a two-time AVCA All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC player.
            Shana Fessette, a three-time All-PSAC selection and a 2000 All-Atlantic Region pick, led the 2000 Lady Eagles with 1,063 assists (12.51 per game average). The 2000 PSAC Championship MVP, she also added 42 service aces, 167 digs, 56 blocks, and 39 kills over the course of the season.  
            Stefanie LaFata led LHU with a .340 attack percentage, and finished second on the squad in kills (358), blocks (105), and service aces (53).  A three-time All-PSAC and two-time AVCA All-Atlantic Region selection, she was also third among the Lady Eagles with 271 digs.  For her career, LaFata finishes second on Lock Haven's career kills chart with 1,326 kills. She is also third on the all-time service ace list (220) and blocking list (386).
            The Lady Eagles (26-10, 9-1 PSAC West), under the guidance of 10^th-year mentor Tom Justice, closed out their 2000 campaign as the Atlantic Region runners-up.  LHU was the PSAC post-season tournament champion and the regular season PSAC Western Division co-champion. This year's Haven squad produced the program's sixth-straight 20-wins season along with its sixth consecutive berth to the PSAC championships and fifth bid into the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament.  

  ###

Nov. 27, 2000 -  LADY EAGLE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE ALL-REGION AWARDS

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Four Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania volleyball players earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region honors for their performances during the 2000 season.  Senior middles Stefanie LaFata (Reading/Holy Name) and Kathryn Stallings (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) both collected their second straight all-region accolades, while a pair of juniors, setter Shana Fessette (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown Central) and outside/opposite hitter Kelli Crouch (Lancaster/Conestoga Valley), earned its first appearance on the region team. 

            Kathryn Stallings led the 2000 squad in kills (401) and blocks (153; 43 solo), and was second with a .338 hitting percentage.  Also the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference leader in blocking this season, Stallings closes out her career as LHU's all-time blocking leader with 625 blocks, and is third on the all-time kill list with 1,307 successful attempts.  Now a two-time all-region player, Stallings also earned First Team All-PSAC honors this season.

            Stefanie LaFata sparked the Haven club with perhaps her best all-around season, leading LHU with a .340 attack percentage while finishing second on the squad in kills (358), blocks (105), and service aces (53).  A First Team All-PSAC selection, she was also third among the Lady Eagles with 271 digs.  For her career, LaFata finishes second on Lock Haven's career kills chart with 1,326 kills. She is also third on the all-time service ace list (220) and blocking list (386).  LaFata, who earns her second all-region selection, was also a 2000 First Team All-PSAC pick.

            Shana Fessette, a three-time All-PSAC selection, tallies her first All-Atlantic Region award after leading the Lady Eagles with 1,063 assists for an impressive 12.51 per game average. The 2000 PSAC Championship MVP, she also added 42 service aces, 167 digs, 56 blocks, and 39 kills.  Fessette is currently second on LHU's all-time assists chart with 4,121 assists.

            Kelli Crouch makes her inaugural appearance on the all-region list, also earning her first all-conference award this season.  The junior opposite hitter registered a team-high 63 service aces, and was second on the team with 294 digs.  Crouch also added 113 kills, 541 assists, and 36 blocks. 

            The Lady Eagles (26-10, 9-1 PSAC West) closed out their 2000 campaign with a runner-up finish to California (Pa.) University in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship match.  LHU was the PSAC post-season tournament champion and the regular season PSAC Western Division co-champion. This year's Haven squad produced the program's sixth-straight 20-wins season along with its sixth consecutive berth to the PSAC championships and fifth bid into the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament.  

###

Nov. 14, 2000 -  LOCK HAVEN VOLLEYBALL HONORED WITH PSAC POST-SEASON AWARDS

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - Several members of Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania 's volleyball team were awarded All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division honors, as voted on by the league's coaches.  Two players received First Team honors, while three players were awarded Second Team recognition.  Indiana (Pa.)'s Laura Hall earned Western Division Athlete of the Year honors, while Edinboro's Ashley Walton was named the Western Division Rookie of the Year.  Fighting Scots' head coach Lynn Theehs was selected the Western Division's Coach of the Year.

            Earning First Team All-PSAC honors was the Lady Eagle senior duo of Kathryn Stallings (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) and Stefanie LaFata (Reading/Holy Name).  Stallings has posted 373 kills with a .335 attack percentage, and leads the PSAC with 149 total blocks (1.44 bpg).  She is also The Haven's career leader in blocks, currently with 621, and is third on the all-time kill list with 1,278 kills.  This is the second first team all-conference selection for Stallings.

            LaFata makes her third appearance on the First Team All-PSAC list.  This season, the senior middle is second only to Stallings in kills with 333, and leads the squad with a 33.8-hitting percentage.  She has contributed all the way around the rotation, also posting 74 blocks, 52 service aces, and 255 digs this season.  LaFata is second on LHU's career kills list with 1,301, and is third on the all-time service aces (219) and blocking (381) lists.

            Second Team All-PSAC accolades went out to the Lady Eagles' Shana Fessette (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown Central), Kara Warnke (Aurora, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), and Kelli Crouch (Lancaster/Conestoga Valley).  Junior setter Shana Fessette is now a three-time all-conference pick, earning first-team honors in 1999 and a second team selection in 1998.  Fessette was the 2000 PSAC Championships MVP after averaging 19 assists per game to help lift Lock Haven over Edinboro in the championship match.  For the season, she has posted 958 assists for a 12.28 per game average, the second-best in the PSAC.  Fessette has also contributed 39 service aces, 151 digs, and 50 total blocks to the Haven effort.

            This is the first all-conference selection for both junior opposite hitter Kelli Crouch and freshman outside hitter Kara Warnke.  Crouch leads the squad behind the service line with 58 aces, and is second on the team in digs with 276.  Opening the season filling in at setter before converting to an opposite hitter, she has 145 kills along with 538 assists to her credit.

            Warnke has made an immediate impact on the success of the Lock Haven team in her inaugural campaign, leading the Lady Eagles in digs (338) while also contributing 274 kills, 35 service aces, and 35 blocks.

            The Lady Eagles (25-9, 9-1 PSAC West) won their second-straight PSAC Championship last weekend, defeating Edinboro University in the championship match, 3-0.  Lock Haven hosts the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championships this weekend, Thursday through Saturday, November 16-18.  The six-team field will vie for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on November 30-December 2 at a site yet to be determined.

###

Nov. 13, 2000 -  LADY EAGLE VOLLEYBALL TO HOST NCAA D-II ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - The National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Atlantic Region Volleyball Championships will return to Thomas Field House this weekend, as Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania will host the 2000 edition of regional championship competition from Thursday, November 16, through Saturday, November 18.  With the national field grown from 32 to 48 teams, six teams in each region now have the opportunity to challenge for the crown and the right to advance to the Elite Eight from November 30-December 2 (site to be determined).  This year's Atlantic Region participants are: #1 Lock Haven University, #2 Edinboro University, #3 California (PA) University, #4 Slippery Rock University, #5 Indiana (PA) University, and #6 East Stroudsburg University.

Below is a capsule of information for each involved team:

LOCK HAVEN: No. 1 seed Lock Haven, the defending regional champion, enters this weekend's tournament with a 25-9 overall mark.  The Lady Eagles are fresh off winning back-to-back 2000 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference post-season tournament championships, defeating Edinboro University, 3-0, for the title last Saturday.  This is The Haven's fifth-straight appearance in the regional tournament, capturing the crown and advancing to the Elite Eight in 1999 and 1997.  LHU is guided by 10^th year mentor Tom Justice, who has accumulated a 207-143 record, including a 167-69 (.708) mark over the past six seasons.

                The Lady Eagles have a number of offensive weapons in their arsenal, including the senior middle duo of Kathryn Stallings (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) and Stefanie LaFata (Reading/Holy Name), both of whom earned All-Region honors last season. The Haven's most explosive force at the net, the pair leads LHU with 372 and 333 kills, respectively, and also guard the net for team highs of 149 and 100 total blocks. Stallings leads the conference and is 11^th in Division II in blocks, averaging 1.46 per game, while LaFata is among PSAC leaders in blocks (0.88 bpg) and service aces (52).  She is also third on the team in digs with 255.

                The floor general is junior setter Shana Fessette (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown Central).  The PSAC Championships MVP after recording 61 assists in the three-game set against Edinboro, Fessette averages 12.28 assists per game (958 assists), and has 39 aces, 151 digs, and 50 blocks.  Joining Fessette at the net are outside hitters Kara Warnke (Aurora, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), Lauren Nuzum (Manchester/Northeastern), and Kelli Crouch (Lancaster/Conestoga Valley).  Warnke, a freshman, has 274 kills and became only the fourth player in Haven history to collect over 300 digs, now with 338. Nuzum (231 kills, 101 digs) and Crouch (145 kills, 58 service aces, 276 digs) also contribute tough play at the net as well as defensively.

Edinboro: The Fighting Scots (20-7), the No. 2 seed, make their sixth Atlantic Region appearance in the past seven years.  That streak includes three championships (1994, '96, '98), all under present Head Coach Lynn Theehs (165-76; 7^th season).  Edinboro finished as the runner-up at the PSAC post-season tournament last weekend, falling to Lock Haven in the championship match.

                Freshman middle hitter Ashley Walton (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern) leads the Fighting Scots in kills (377) and blocks (70), and is fourth in the PSAC in hitting percentage (.372).   Also adding to the Fighting Scot attack is senior outside attacker Abby Galcik (Brackenridge/Knoch), who has come on strong this year to add 304 kills, 292 digs, and a team-best 45 service aces.  Another rookie, outside hitter Amy Medicus (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch), has consistently contributed to the Edinboro attack with 253 kills and a team-best 325 digs.

                Senior setter Lisa Poeschl (Pittsburgh/Plum) is the EUP all-time assist leader (4,380) and is currently averaging a blazing 14.19 per game, which is the best in the conference and 11^th nationally.  Aiding the Fighting Scots' defensive game, senior Sarah Roseto (Harborcreek/Harbor Creek) (243 digs) and sophomore Stephanie Burner (Pittsburgh/Upper St. Clair) (240 digs) have also played a pivotal role in their success this season. 

California (PA): This is the first trip to the NCAA Division II tournament for the Vulcans of California (Pa.) University (23-10), guided by third-year mentor Limin Jin (68-30).  Under Jin, the Vulcans have made considerable progress, compiling 20-win records in each of the past two seasons.  This season, the California squad is ranked among the nation's top five in hitting percentage (.314). 

                The team's lone senior, outside hitter Rachel May (Stow, Ohio/Stow), paces the offense with 399 kills, 41 service aces, and 211 digs. Junior setter Ying Xu (Nanjing, China/Nanjing) averages 12.21 assists per game (1380 assists), and is also effective as an attacker, posting a .393 attack percentage. Freshman middle Dingding Lu (Beijing, China/Beijing Sports) has carved out her niche with the Vulcans, recording 313 kills and a .457 hitting percentage, the best in the PSAC and among the leaders in NCAA Division II.  Lu teams up with fellow middle Melissa Branford (Barbados, W.I./Harrison) to lead California in blocking, posting 110 and 81 total blocks, respectively.  Sophomore Max Neiberg (Upper St. Clair/USC) chips in with 379 kills and 135 digs.

Slippery Rock: The Rock (16-16), under 17^th year head coach Laurie Lokash, makes its third trek to the NCAA tournament, also challenging for the title in 1993 and '94. 

                Slippery Rock is led by three-time All-Atlantic Region setter Sally Scott (Johnstown/Richland).  Scott averages 11.34 assists per game (1349 total assists), and is a threat from the service line, recording a team-high 39 service aces.  A well-rounded player, Scott also leads the squad with 518 digs. 

The Rock front row is dominated by juniors Elena Janevska (Skopje, Macedonia/Josip BrozTito), an outside hitter, and Heidi Slatcoff (Windber/Windber Area), one of SRU's middles.  Janevska paces the offense with 420 kills, and has also recorded 499 digs.  Slatcoff reports in with 398 kills, a second-best attack percentage of .285, and is Slippery Rock's top blocker with 91 total stuffs.  Defensive specialists Kerrie Spence (Titusville/Titusville) and Sibil Akcambazyan (Butler/Knoch) control the back row with 340 and 316 digs, respectively. 

INDIANA (PA): The Indians of IUP (24-10), guided by third-year head coach Carmine Cortazzo (50-35), make their debut in the NCAA Division II tournament.  This year's Indiana team set a new school record for wins in a season with 24 victories, and the IUP program has put together back-to-back winning seasons after a string of eight previous non-winning campaigns.

                IUP is led by 1999 PSAC Rookie of the Year Laura Hall (Rural Valley/Shannock Valley).  The sophomore outside hitter leads the Indians in four statistical categories, including kills (615), hitting percentage (.400), digs (366), and service aces (65).  Hall is first in the PSAC in kills per game (5.00), and is second only to California's Lu in hitting percentage. 

                Other top contributors include junior middle hitter Tracy Pangallo (Jeannette/Penn Trafford), who is second on the squad in kills (317) and attack percentage (.372).  IUP's lone senior, setter Jen Regan (Pittsburgh/Baldwin), ranks third in the PSAC with 12.01 assists per game. 

                The defensive efforts of the Indians are piloted by sophomore middle blocker Karla Raczkowski (Greensburg/Greensburg Salem), who leads the team with 112 total blocks.  Sophomore defensive specialist Leah Kostelnik (Greensburg/Greensburg Salem) is second on the team with 259 digs, and junior outside hitters Erin Bruesewitz (Pittsburgh/Mt. Lebanon) and Missy Haney (Portersville/Laurel) add 253 and 184 kills, respectively. 

EAST STROUDSBURG: This is the inaugural appearance in the NCAA Division II volleyball tournament for East Stroudsburg (16-16), although the Warriors were once a force in the AIAW, competing in its regional championships 11 times and advancing to the nationals in 1977, ’79, and ’81.  East Stroudsburg is under the direction of first-year head coach John Greenlee.

                Sophomore outside hitter April Mellott (Dover/Spring Grove) has been the Warriors' leader this season, pacing the team in kills (428) and attack percentage (.358).  Mellott has also contributed 277 digs and 73 blocks to help guide East Stroudsburg to its first PSAC Eastern Division crown in four years. 

                She is joined by fellow sophomore outside hitter Andrea Myers (Mount Wolf/Northeastern), who is second on the team in kills (314) and leads ESU with 378 digs and 49 service aces.  Senior setter Ashleigh Reinert (Dover/Dover) averages 8.66 assists per game, and has also demonstrated strong serving with 26 aces to her credit.

                At the net, the Warriors' block is run by freshman middle Sarah Brown (Pine Grove/Pine Grove), who has totaled 98 blocks, and junior middle Cassie Brinn (Oxford/Oxford), with 78 blocks. 

LAST YEAR: The Lock Haven Lady Eagles are the reigning Atlantic Region champions, defeating the University of Charleston, 3-0, in the first round before collecting a 3-1 victory over Edinboro University for last year's championship. 

###

(Edinboro, Pa.) - The Lock Haven Lady Eagles advance to the PSAC post-season tournament title game for the fifth consecutive season after defeating East Stroudsburg University, 3-0, in semifinal action tonight.  Lock Haven, the second seeded squad in the PSAC Western Division, will meet up with the winner of the Edinboro University (No. 1 West) - Shippensburg University (No. 2 East) match-up scheduled for later this evening.

            The Lady Eagles easily handled the Warriors in game one, taking the first point of the game with a kill by junior outside hitter Lauren Nuzum (Manchester/Northeastern) and proceeding in much the same manner for the entire game.  The Haven would record an early 10-2 lead before closing out the game at 15-7. 

            Game two would prove a little more difficult, with four lead changes before LHU pulled out the 15-12 victory riding on tough play at the net by junior outside hitter Kelli Crouch (Lancaster/Conestoga Valley) and senior middle hitter Stefanie LaFata (Reading/Holy Name).  Lock Haven opened up the game with a 2-0 advantage, but East Stroudsburg went on a 4-0 run to jump ahead, 4-2.  ESU built a 6-3 lead before The Haven went on a six-point run to recapture the lead.  Two more ties and a final lead change later, LHU was sitting on an 11-10 advantage after a solo block by LaFata.  A kill by Crouch, a block by LaFata and Crouch, and then a kill by Crouch on an East Stroudsburg overpass brought Lock Haven to game point.  Two Haven hitting errors brought ESU two points closer, but LaFata wrapped things up with a kill through the middle to take the second game, 15-12.

            The Lady Eagles came out firing in the third game, rolling to a 10-1 lead before ESU attempted a comeback.  After five unanswered points from the Warriors and a Lock Haven timeout, the Lady Eagles responded to close out the game and the match on a five-point run capped off by a kill from middle hitter Kathryn Stallings (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg), whose steady play resulted in a game-high 19 kills along with seven blocks.

            For the game, Stallings led the Lady Eagles with 19 kills, seven blocks, and seven digs.  Stefanie LaFata posted 12 kills, 10 digs, and five blocks, while Kelli Crouch added 10 kills and eight digs.  Junior setter Shana Fessette (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown Central) posted 43 assists on the evening, and also recorded 10 digs in the victory. 

            “We played well when we needed to play well,” said Head Coach Tom Justice.  “We served tough and passed well.  We lost a little focus in game two, but by and large I was pleased with the effort.  The one thing I am concerned about is our focus — we have to make sure we keep our mission in mind at all times.  We haven’t responded quickly enough when we have been challenged, but I have enough confidence that we can put it all together, so I am excited to see what happens tomorrow."

###

Lock Haven earns the No. 2 West seed, and will face the East Division’s No. 1 seed, East Stroudsburg University (16-15, 9-1 PSAC East), on Friday evening at 5 p.m. in Edinboro’s McComb Fieldhouse. Shippensburg University (19-14, 8-2 PSAC East), the No. 2 seed from the East, will face Edinboro in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. The championship game is slated for 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 11.

###

The 5'11" freshman outside hitter led the Lady Eagles to two conference victories this past week, defeating California (Pa.) University, 3-0 (16-14, 15-8, 15-9), and Edinboro University, 3-1 (15-5, 15-2, 14-16, 15-10).  Warnke recorded team highs of 15 kills and 14 digs against California, and 14 kills and 16 digs against Edinboro.  She also tallied four blocks and two service aces during the stretch.

This season, Warnke has 94 kills and a .195 attack percentage.  She is third on the team in digs with 109, and has 12 service aces. 

The Lady Eagle volleyball team is 8-6 overall and has a 2-0 ledger in the PSAC West.  Lock Haven will travel to Indiana (Pa.) University on Tuesday, September 19, and host Juniata College on Saturday, September 23 at 7 p.m.

###

June 25, 2000 -- LHU VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCES 
                       2000 RECRUITING CLASS

(Lock Haven, Pa.) - The Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania women's volleyball team has released a list of seven players who will make their way to The Haven for the 2000 season.

                This year's recruiting class is described by Head Coach Tom Justice as one of his strongest and talented yet.  "I am extremely happy with this year's class," said Justice. "We have some really outstanding young women coming in, both in terms of athletic ability and personal attributes.  I think they'll make a tremendous difference.  The team is looking forward to, as am I, working with these freshmen."

Below is the list of 2000 LHU Volleyball recruits:

Rachel Coleman (6'1", Middle Hitter, Centreville, Va./Centreville High School)
Coleman helped lead the 1999 Centreville High School Wildcats to a 16-1 record, a Concorde District championship crown, and an appearance in the Virginia State Tournament quarterfinals in its first-ever season.  She was selected as the Concorde District MVP, the District Tournament MVP, and is also a candidate for the All-D.C. Metro Team. 

Kristy Dudash (6'0", Middle Hitter, Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick High School)
A three-time All-District middle hitter, Dudash comes to Lock Haven from Brunswick High School in Ohio.  She earned All-Pioneer Conference honors in her junior and senior seasons, and was also a member of the All-Conference Academic team.  Dudash was named the Brunswick HS MVP in two of her four seasons, and earned Player of the Week honors from the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Medina County Gazette on numerous occasions.  A two-sport athlete in high school, she also received all-conference honors in basketball in each of her last two seasons.  

Beth Hackenberg (6'2", Middle Hitter, Maumee, Ohio/Springfield High School)
Hackenberg is a two-time All-District and three-time All-Northern Lakes League player who brings three years of high school and club team experience to Lock Haven.  In her senior season, Hackenberg was voted her team's MVP and earned first team NLL All-Academic honors.  She is also a member of the Toledo Volleyball Club, which advanced to the 1999 National Junior Olympics Tournament.

Jenn Klimchak (5'8", Defensive Specialist, Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny High School)
Klimchak was a WPIAL Quad A All-Star her senior season. A four year letter-winner for the North Allegheny Tigers, she was also a member of the East Coast Conference 16 Team silver medallist Kokoro Juniors. 

Jennifer Sixsmith (5'8", Outside Hitter, Tulsa, Okla./Cascia Hall Preparatory School)
An All-State outside hitter from Tulsa, Okla., Sixsmith was a four-year starter for the Cascia Hall Preparatory Commandos.  In her senior season, she earned All-State Tournament Team MVP honors as she led her squad to the 1999 state crown.  Sixsmith is a three-time All-State Tournament team member, and has earned multiple All-Tournament team selections as well as MVP votes.  An experienced player on the club circuit, she most recently competed for the Hurricane Juniors 18 Elite Team. 

Brianne Stark (5'6", Outside Hitter, Bradford, Pa./Bradford Area High School)
Stark comes to The Haven after a standout career at Bradford Area High School, earning All-District honors along with a selection to the Big 30 All-Star Team.  A three-year high school letter-winner, Stark was named the team MVP in her senior season, and was also a member of the Keystone State Games silver medallist Nittany Region team.

Kara Warnke (5'11", Outside Hitter, Aurora, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit High School)
Another highly decorated player in Coach Justice's recruiting class, Warnke earned All-Ohio honors in her junior and senior seasons while starting at outside hitter at Walsh Jesuit High School.  In her senior season, she won First Team All-District and All-Summit County recognition, and made the Beacon Journal's "Super Six".  An outstanding athlete, Warnke was also a two-time Honorable Mention All-State basketball player as well as an All-Ohio track athlete. 

The 1999 edition of the Lady Eagle volleyball team recorded the program's best season ever, going 32-6 and making its second trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament by winning the Atlantic Region crown.  The LHU squad went 10-0 in regular season competition in the PSAC West, the first time The Haven team has gone undefeated in divisional play, and went on to win the PSAC title, its second in its short nine-year history.

The Lady Eagles, under the steady guidance of Head Coach Tom Justice, will enter their tenth season in 2000.  Next year's squad will inherit the challenging task of continuing the success of previous LHU units.  Among the milestones on the horizon, the LHU program needs 18 wins to reach the 200-win mark, having gone 182-134 over the past nine seasons. 

The Top Ten Awards provide the PSAC an extra tier in the recognition of the top student-athletes on all PSAC squads with 3.25 cumulative GPA's or better. Additionally, the PSAC names the top Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

For the complete list of PSAC Fall Top Ten honorees, go to the PSAC home page at www.lhup.edu/psac.

Head Coach Tom Justice was also among those receiving honors, being selected the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. His second regional recognition (the first was in 1997, after the Lady Eagles' first trip to the Elite Eight), Justice led the 1999 Lady Eagles to their best season yet, recording a 32-6 record. The squad advanced to the Elite Eight, where they bowed out with a 1-3 loss to West Texas A&M University. Quite possibly a sign of even better things to come, his team's one game victory was the first time in the history of the Elite Eight (since 1988) that a team from the Atlantic Region had won a game. Along the way, his squad earned a regular-season PSAC West title with a flawless 10-0 conference record, a PSAC Post-Season Championship, and an Atlantic Region Championship. Justice was also the PSAC West Coach of the Year, his third such honor and second straight (1996, 1998).

(Lock Haven, Pa.) ~ The Lock Haven University women's volleyball team saw their season come to an end Thursday afternoon, falling to second-ranked West-Texas A&M University three games to one, in the elite eight tournament in Battle Creek, Michigan.

The Lady Eagles won the first game 15-10, but dropped three consecutive games( 8-15, 9-15,  11-15), to end their season with a record of 32-6.

"In the second and third game oneof the reasons we fell behind is because we played too conservitavely, and our passing game kind of fell off as well," said LHU head coach Tom Justice. Justice said the Lady Eagles played well and he never lost confidence in their ability.

Sarah Schall led the Haven with 20 kills in the match. "We knew it was our last time to compete together as this team. We had fun and that was one of the things we wanted to do," she said.

By virtue of their No. 1 seed, the Lady Eagles will host the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championships this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 20-21. The other three competitors in the four-team championship include #2 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, #3 Lees-McRae (N.C.) College, and #4 University of Charleston (W.Va.). Semifinal matches begin on Saturday at 5 p.m., when Lock Haven will face the University of Charleston. Edinboro will match up against Lees-McRae at 7:30 p.m. The winner advances to the region championship match on Sunday at 3 p.m. That winner earns a berth into the Elite Eight in Battle Creek, Mich., to be held from Thursday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 4.

Charleston can attribute much of its success to the trio of First Team All-WVIAC Nicole LaFollette (Longmont, Colo.), All-WVIAC Mary Weisensee (West Linn, Ore.), and Andrea Rivelli (Milwaukie, Ore.).

The winners of the semifinal contests on Friday will clash on Saturday, November 13, at 5 p.m. for the conference crown. Edinboro University has won the title the past two seasons. Lock Haven was the title winner in 1996.

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania volleyball student-athlete Sarah Schall (Shippensburg, Pa./ Shippensburg) was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Player of the Week for the week ending November 2. This is the third time she has merited a Player of the Week accolade this season.

A senior outside hitter, Schall led The Haven with 11 service aces and 37 digs as the team added three wins to its ledger, defeating Indiana (Pa.) University, Millersville University, and Shepherd College, this past week. Schall also added 42 kills with a strong .338 hitting percentage. She played a large role in the Lady Eagles' victory over Indiana, collecting team highs of 19 kills, 21 digs, and five service aces in the four-game match.

Schall is a three-time All-Region player as well as a two-time PSAC Athlete of the Year for volleyball. During her career at Lock Haven, Schall has become the all-time Lady Eagle leader for both kills (1814) and digs (1477).

The Haven is now 27-5 overall and 9-0 in the PSAC West. A win on Friday, Nov. 5, over Clarion University would give the Lady Eagles their first spotless, regular season, conference record in the history of the nine-year old program. Lock Haven has already clinched the No. 1 Western seed for the PSAC post-season tournament, to be held on Friday-Saturday, November 12-13, at Millersville University.

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania student-athlete Stefanie LaFata (Reading/Holy Name) was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Player of the Week for the week ending September 28.

The Lock Haven Volleyball team is now 14-2, and is riding a 14-match winning streak - the longest in the program's nine-year history. The Lady Eagles travel to Slippery Rock this evening, Tuesday, September 28, for a 7 p.m. conference dual.

    Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania volleyball player Sarah Schall (Shippensburg, PA/ Shippensburg) collected her second-straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Player of the Week accolade for the week ending September 21.

    A senior outside hitter, Schall recorded 18 kills, hitting at an impressive 45.2-percent clip, to lead the Lady Eagles in a big win over PSAC Western Division rival Edinboro University last Tuesday. Schall also tallied five digs, three blocks, and one service ace in the victory.

   The Lady Eagles are 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC West, and will take on conference foe Indiana University of Pennsylvania tonight, Tuesday, September 21, at 7 p.m. in the Thomas Field House gymnasium.

Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania volleyball player Sarah Schall (Shippensburg, PA/Shippensburg) earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors for the week ending September 14, for her performance in last Tuesday's conference win over California University of PA.

Schall, an outside hitter, led the Lady Eagle volleyball squad in the intense, 3-2 match victory over the Vulcans of California in the team's first PSAC dual of the season. She registered a match-high 23 kills in the contest along with a team-best 13 digs. The Haven fought off adversity after dropping the first two games to fight back to capture the next three games for the win.

This past Tuesday, Lock Haven traveled to top PSAC West rival Edinboro University, coming away with an impressive 3-0 win over the Fighting Scots. Schall led the Lady Eagles in that contest with 18 kills, five digs, and three blocks.

For the season, Schall has accumulated team-highs of 125 kills and 90 digs.

The Lady Eagles are currently 8-2 overall, riding an eight-match winning streak, and are 2-0 in the PSAC West. Their next contest is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, when they host Indiana University of PA at Thomas Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.