LHU CAPTURES PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 3-2 WIN OVER EDINBORO
Cherry Li Named Championship MVP

(Kutztown, Pa.) -  The Lock Haven University volleyball team (29-5) captured the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship, pocketing a 3-2 (28-30, 30-22, 30-26, 18-30, 15-11) victory over Edinboro University (25-11) at Kutztown’s Keystone Hall this evening.  Freshman middle Cherry Li (Shanghai, China) was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after registering 22 kills and 16 digs in the championship match.
            Edinboro took the early lead, winning a closely fought 30-28 game to open up the dual.  Lock Haven answered with a 30-22 game, then moved out into a 2-1 lead after scoring 22 of 30 points on kills in a 30-26 win in the third set.  The Lady Eagles hit a dismal -.075 percent (6-9-40) in the fourth game, falling behind early before giving up the 30-18 final to move into the fifth and deciding game.  Lock Haven jumped into a 5-0 lead in the final set and never looked back, posting a 15-11 win for the championship crown.
            “This was a great win for us because we had to overcome a lot of crises during the match and we never gave up,” said 13^th year head coach Tom Justice. “Our hitting was below our average, but our defense came through and we made big plays at crucial times.”
          “The team kept fighting and they believed they could win.  That belief is the most precious commodity there is --  I’m just really proud of them.”
            Li led LHU with 22 kills and also added 16 digs and two blocks.  The Lady Eagle defense sparked the offensive success, and sophomore Allison Wade (Duncansville/Hollidaysburg) was a key component of that performance with a match high of 19 digs in addition to her offensive contribution of seven kills. Sophomore outside hitter Michelle Deehan (Upper Marlboro, Md./Gwynn Park) accounted for 12 kills and also added 12 digs and four blocks. Junior middle Lillian Bortoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Campos Salles) had another solid match at the net, swinging for 10 kills as well as big defensive numbers with four digs and eight blocks.  Amanda Snyder (Portsmouth, Va./Churchland) added seven kills, 14 digs and four blocks, while setter Allison Furry (Guys Mills/Maplewood) had 43 assists, eight digs and three kills.
            The win gave Lock Haven its fourth PSAC championship title, and the first since winning back-to-back crowns in 1999 and 2000.
            Lock Haven, ranked first in the Atlantic Region, will await word on the NCAA Division II Regional playoffs, which are scheduled for this upcoming weekend (either Nov. 20-22 or 21-23) at a site to be determined.           

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