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 INDIANA,
Pa. – After a
well-deserved week off, the No. 22 Lock Haven University volleyball team
(5-4, 1-0 PSAC West) and head coach Tom
Justice defeated IUP (10-3, 0-1) in both teams' first divisional
matchup today (Sept. 13) in five sets. In a contest originally
scheduled to be the home opener for the Lady Eagles, the two-time defending
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champions had to adjust their
schedule and swap home matches with the Indians of IUP.
In a closer contest than expected, LHU
walked away with the victory, 30-24, 25-30, 30-17, 26-30, 15-7. A
little rusty after the week off from competition, Justice felt that his
squad played nervous and made mistakes.
"Some off our players had an off game
tonight, and we committed some errors," explained Justice. "It was
hard to come in and play on their court, but we did the most important thing
and got the win."
Again leading the way for the Haven was
junior middle hitter Li YiZhi
(Shanghai, China). The defending PSAC West Player of the Year got
a little banged up in the contest, but fought through some pain to help the
Lady Eagles get the victory. Li finished with a team-high 16
kills and 18 digs to go along with three service aces and five block
assists.
Stacey Borgia (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) continued to make
her case for PSAC Rookie of the Year, finishing the night with a game-high
nine total blocks and eight kills. Junior
Maggie Borden (Hanover,
Pa./Delone Catholic)
had her best game of the season, contributing in the winning effort with 10
kills, a team-high .308 hitting percentage and five block assists.
The terrific tandem of senior setters,
Kelly Kostelich (Venetia,
Pa./Peters Township)
and Allison Furry (Guys
Mills, Pa./Maplewood),
put together their best team effort against IUP. They both finished
the night with a season-high 30 assists apiece. Classmates
Allison Wade (Duncansville,
Pa./Hollidaysburg Area)
and Michelle Deehan (Upper
Marlboro, Md./Gwynn Park)
got into the winning spirit. Wade just missed a double-double with 13
kills and nine digs, while Deehan added five kills, six digs and three
service aces.
Junior transfer
Mayumi Ishihara (Hamamatshu
City, Japan/Coffeeville CC), who has played in every game for the Lady
Eagles this year, chipped in with 9 digs.
Inga Kurgonaite (Kaunas,
Lithuania/Yuozas Urbsys)
pounded out 13 kills for LHU.
Li, Borgia, Borden,
Kostelich, Furry, Wade, Deehan, Ishihara, Kurgonaite, and the rest of the Lady Eagles
travel to Edinboro University to take on the Fighting Scots Saturday Sept.
17 at 7 p.m.
###LHU### |
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