November 12, 2003
Lady Eagle Volleyball To Vie For PSAC Title

Lock Haven University (27-5): The Lady Eagles defeated Indiana (Pa.), 3-1 (30-24, 27-30, 30-24, 30-25), in the Western Division quarterfinal to earn their ticket to the PSAC final four.  
            Lock Haven’s net action was key, with three players registering kills in double-figures and a team total of 18.5 blocks.  Middle hitter Cherry Li (Shanghai, China) led the way with 25 kills in addition to 18 digs and nine blocks.  Middle Lillian Bortoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Campos Salles) added 12 kills and also posted nine blocks including a team-best three solo stuffs. Outside hitter Allison Wade (Duncansville/Hollidaysburg) had 11 kills, outside hitter Kristi Kauffman (York/Central York ) totaled 12 digs and setter Allison Furry (Guys Mills/Maplewood) had 52 assists in the win. 
            On the season, Li leads the PSAC and is third in the nation with a .485 attack percentage. She has team highs of 462 kills (4.32 k/g), 401 digs (3.75 d/g) and 118 blocks (1.10).  Six other players add to the attack with 100 or more kills, including Allison Wade (203 kills; 2.51 k/g) and opposite side hitter Amanda Snyder (Portsmouth, Va./Churchland) (181 kills; 2.08 k/g).  
            Kristi Kauffman is second to Li with 259 digs, while Amanda Snyder has picked up almost as many with 236 digs on the season.  Libero Kelly Wengerter (Emerson, N.J./Emerson) is the fourth Lady Eagle over the 200-dig mark, currently posting 205 defensive saves. 
            Defense at the net has been directed by Li, who has 118 blocks including 42 solo blocks. Lillian Bortoto is a close second, adding 100 blocks.
            Sophomore setter Allison Furry averages 10.39 assists per game, entering the weekend with 904 total.   

Lillian Bortoto goes up for 
the kill in the PSAC
 Quarterfinal win over IUP.

PSAC Tournament Schedule
(Hosted by Kutztown University)

Fri., Nov. 14 - Semifinal Round
5 pm - (W1) Edinboro vs. (E2) West Chester
7:30 pm - (E1) Kutztown vs. (W2) Lock Haven

Sat., Nov. 15 - Championship 
5 pm - Semifinal Winners

Kutztown University (21-8): The Golden Bears of Kutztown are 21-8 overall and assembled an undefeated season in PSAC Eastern Division play with a 10-0 ledger to earn the division’s top seed in the conference tournament.    
            Kutztown posts six players with 100 or more kills, paced by Sarah Brandon and Dani Witherite. Brandon averages 3.37 kills per game with a team best of 340 kills, while Witherite has 267 (2.75 k/g) on the season.  Witherite is also second on the squad with 47 service aces and is third among Golden Bears with 274 digs (2.82 d/g). 
            Jessie Didier (340 kills; 1.94 k/g) and Shannon Sullivan (176 kills; 2.44 k/g) have both added power to the offensive front line, Didier also leading the Golden Bears with 78 blocks (0.78 b/g). 
            Setter Katie Herman averages 9.72 assists per game with a count of 1040 this season and also leads Kutztown with 49 service aces. Her 288 digs (2.69 d/g) ranks second among the Golden Bear defense.   Candace Cagle (293 digs; 2.99 d/g) adds to the defensive efforts, and Jenn Stocker is second on the team with 77 blocks (0.93 b/g).

First Time Around: Lock Haven and Kutztown met in a PSAC cross-over match earlier this season, Lock Haven defeating the Golden Bears, 3-0 (30-26, 30-24, 30-21). Cherry Li registered 16 kills and 10 digs, and Lillian Bortoto (13 kills, 6 blocks) and Kristi Kauffman (12 kills, 13 digs) followed suit to help engineer the win. Dani Witherite led Kutztown with eight kills and nine digs.

In The Other Semifinal Match – (W1) Edinboro University vs. (E2) West Chester University:  The Fighting Scots of Edinboro University are 24-10 overall and took the top seed in the Western Division on a tie-breaker decision after earning a share of the regular season crown with Lock Haven. Edinboro leads the PSAC in team hitting percentage (.294), assists (1760) and kills (1955). West Chester enters the weekend with a 19-14 overall ledger following Tuesday’s 3-1 quarterfinal win over Shippensburg University . The Rams rate second in the PSAC in attack percentage (.277) and are also second in service aces (276; 2.42 a/g).

Lock Haven Versus PSAC Tournament Participants:  The Lady Eagles are 1-0 against both Kutztown and West Chester , defeating both in three games. Lock Haven is 1-1 against the Edinboro Fighting Scots this season, winning a 3-1 match at home while falling in four games on the road.  

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