Box Score LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University volleyball team (26-9) downed defending champion California (Pa.) (28-7) 3-2 in a thrilling five-set match tonight to advance to the PSAC Championship.

Lock Haven, who fell to CAL in last year's PSAC Championship match, jumped out to a 1-0 lead after taking the first set 25-22.  The Haven held CAL's potent offense to just a .242 hitting percentage in the first set.

CAL responded however, and the Vulcans took set two, 25-16.

LHU and CAL split sets three and four.  The Haven took set three, 25-21 and CAL evened the match at 2-2 by taking set four, 25-20.

Leading 14-12 in the deciding fifth set, Lock Haven got a kill from senior outside hitter Gao Xuan (Dong Ying, China/Zibo No. 10 Middle School) to take the set 15-12 and send The Haven into tomorrow's PSAC Championship.

Xuan had another outstanding night for LHU.  The PSAC East Athlete of the Year recorded a match-high 24 kills and added 11 digs and three aces.  She hit .381 in the match.

Bailey Farthing (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) and Megan Flick (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) were both solid offensively and they had 13 and 11 kills, respectively.

Flick led LHU with a .429 hitting percentage on the night.

The PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, Erin Walsh (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) was strong defensively and played a major role in slowing down the CAL attack.  The Haven's career digs leader finished with a match-high 27 digs.

Setter Alexa Garrity (Boothwyn, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) was outstanding tonight.  The senior dished out a career-high 63 assists and chipped in defensively with eight digs.

Senior Grace Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) tallied nine kills and posted a .389 hitting percentage for LHU.

Bethany Burns (Erie, Pa./McDowell) added 15 digs on the night.

The win was LHU's 14th straight.

Since 1996, Lock Haven has now reached 14 of the last 17 PSAC Championship matches.

The Lady Eagles will play for the PSAC Championship tomorrow (November 17) against host Gannon.  The match at Gannon's Hammermill Center is set for 7 p.m.

Semifinal scores:
E1 Lock Haven defeats W2 California (Pa.) 3-2
W1 Gannon defeats E2 Shippensburg 3-2

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Match Notes:
- Lock Haven defeated defending PSAC Champion CAL 3-2.
- The Haven qualified for its second straight PSAC Championship.
- Since 1996, Lock Haven has reached 14 of the last 17 PSAC Championship matches.
- Alexa Garrity set a career-high with 63 assists against CAL.
- Lock Haven is ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region.
- CAL is ranked first in the Atlantic Region.
- Lock Haven is third all-time with six PSAC Volleyball Championships